We arrived at Otaheite just in time to witness the funeral ceremonies of
the pious chief Omaree. He was lying in state at his house above the
harbour where we landed, and we were invited to assist at the obsequies.
His _viscera_ were removed, and his _remains_, properly speaking, were
laid on an elegant palanquin or hanging bier, highly perfumed; around
which, and through the apartment, odorous oils were burning. Several of
his old friends came to see him, and complimented him highly on the state
of his looks and his good condition in various respects. They presented
him with numerous and tasteful gifts, which they assured him were sincere
tokens of their esteem, and hoped he would accept them as such. Omaree
replied by the mouth of an old priest who acted as master of the
ceremonies--assuring the good company, in return, that he was "as well as
could be expected," felt particularly flattered by the kind attentions of
his friends and visiters, and hoped they would make themselves quite at
home. "By the hand of my body," exclaimed the captain, sitting down to a
bowl of fresh Palmetto wine, and lighting a pipe at the foot-lights, "this
is the _dacentest_ wake I ever came across out of Ireland! Noble sir, your
good health and snug lying to you!"

After a conversation with Omaree on various interesting topics, his
friends and family proposed taking him to see his property in another part
of the island: he gratefully assented to the proposition, and requested
the good company to avoid fatiguing themselves by travelling too rapidly,
as he was in no hurry to leave them. He was then borne in state for some
miles, preceded by dancers, singers, knuckle-drummers, strewers of flowers
and leaves, &c., to a pretty spot by the sea-side, where he had lately
made a tobacco-plantation, and which, he remarked, "would be scarce worth
the plucking, as he had not been able to attend to it of late;--however,
he hoped his venerable and disinterested friend and spiritual comforter,
the priest, would accept the crop, such as it was, as a slight testimony