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The Chief’s Funeral

           Hishead,adornedwithfeathers,wasencircledwithacrownofgreenleaves.Hisface,arms,andchesthadbeenrubbedwithoil,anddidnotshowanysignofdecay.

           Theparentsandfriendsarrivedatthefootofthemound,andatacertainmoment,asiftheleaderofanorchestrawereleadingafuneralchant,therearoseagreatwailoftears,sighs,andsobs.Theylamentedthedeceasedwithaplaintiverhythmanddolefulcadence.Thekinsmenbeattheirheads;thekinswomentoretheirfaceswiththeirnailsandlavishedmorebloodthantears.Butthesedemonstrationswerenotsufficienttopropitiatethesoulofthedeceased,whosewrathmightstrikethesurvivorsofhistribe;andhiswarriors,astheycouldnotrecallhimtolife,wereanxiousthatheshouldhavenothingtowishforintheotherworld.ThewifeofKara-Tetewasnottobepartedfromhim;indeed,shewouldhaverefusedtosurvivehim.Itwasacustom,aswellasaduty,andMaorihistoryhasnolackofsuchsacrifices.

           Thiswomancameonthescene;shewasstillyoung.Herdisheveledhairflowedoverhershoulders.Hersobsandcriesfilledtheair.Incoherentwords,regrets,sobs,brokenphrasesinwhichsheextolledthevirtuesofthedead,alternatedwithhermoans,andinacrowningparoxysmofsorrow,shethrewherselfatthefootofthemoundandbeatherheadontheearth.

           TheKai-Koumoudrewnear;suddenlythewretchedvictimrose;butaviolentblowfroma"MERE,"akindofclubbrandishedbythechief,struckhertotheground;shefellsenseless.

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