| Citation |
SCGCJ.773.073
19 Oct 1773:22, 23 (412)
Lieutenant Cook's description of the ceremonies of an Indian
funeral, . . . From the voyages to the South-Sea, Published
by Dr. Hawkesworth.
. . . [Description of burial ceremonies]
Mr. Banks, in his morning walk this day, met a number of the
natives, whom, upon enquiry, he found to be travelling
musicians; and having learnt where they were to be at night,
we all repaired to the place. The band consisted of two
flutes and three drums, and we found a great number of
people assembled upon the occasion. The drummers accompanied
the music with their voices, and, to our great surprize,
we discovered that we were generally the subject of the
song. We did not expect to have found among the uncivilized
inhabitants of this sequestered spot, a character, which has
been the subject of such praise and veneration where genius
and knowledge have been most conspicuous; yet these were the
bards or minstrels of Otaheite. Their song was
unpremeditated, and accompanied with music; they were
continually going about from place to place, and they were
rewarded by the master of the house, and the audience, with
such things as one wanted and the other could spare.
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