No great work and no expedition is undertaken without offerings and
prayer.
When sickness is in the family, a pig is brought to the sacred place of
the great spirit, and killed. The carcase is then taken to the sacred
place of the family, and the spirits are asked to accept it. Sins are
confessed, such as bananas that are taken, or cocoanuts, and none have
been presented, and leave not given to eat them. "There is a pig;
accept, and remove the sickness." Death follows, and the day of burial
arrives. The friends all stand round the open grave, and the chief's
sister or cousin calls out in a loud voice, "You have been angry with us
for the bananas we have taken (or cocoanuts, as the case may be), and you
have, in your anger, taken this child. Now let it suffice, and bury your
anger." The body is then placed in the grave, and covered over with
earth.
CHAPTER III. SKETCHES OF PAPUAN LIFE.
Journey inland from Port Moresby--Evening with a chief--Savage life--Tree
houses--Uakinumu--Inland natives--Native habits of eating--Mountain
scenery--Upland natives--Return to Uakinumu--Drinking out of a
bamboo--Native conversation--Keninumu--Munikahila--Native
spiritists--Habits and influence of these
men--Meroka--Kerianumu--Makapili--The Laroki Falls--Epakari--Return to
Port Moresby.
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