Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition : during the years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842 . deeds of valour. Persons thus distinguished are pointed out ashighly favoured; in consequence, they receive great respect, and theiropinions are treated with much consideration, besides which, theyhave many personal privileges. In general, the passage from life to death is considered as one frompain to happiness, and I was informed, that nine out of ten lookforward to it with anxiety, in order to escape from the infirmities ofold age, or the sufferings of disease. CUSTOMS OF THE FEEJEE GROUP.
Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition : during the years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842 . deeds of valour. Persons thus distinguished are pointed out ashighly favoured; in consequence, they receive great respect, and theiropinions are treated with much consideration, besides which, theyhave many personal privileges. In general, the passage from life to death is considered as one frompain to happiness, and I was informed, that nine out of ten lookforward to it with anxiety, in order to escape from the infirmities ofold age, or the sufferings of disease. CUSTOMS OF THE FEEJEE GROUP. 91 The deities whom we have named are served by priests, calledambati, who are worshipped in buildings denominated mbure, orspirit-houses. Of such buildings each town has at least one, and oftenseveral, which serve also for entertaining strangers, as well as forholding councils and other public meetings. In these mbures, imagesare found; but these, although much esteemed as ornaments, andheld sacred, are not worshipped as idols. They are only produced ongreat occasions, such as festivals, & The ambati, or priests, have great influence over the people, whoconsult them on all occasions, but are generally found acting inconcert with the chiefs, thus forming a union of power which rulesthe islands. Each chief has his ambati, who attends him whereverhe goes. The people are grossly superstitious, and there are few oftheir occupations in which the ambati is not more or less is held sacred within his own district, being considered as therepresentative of the kalou, or spirit. Mr. Hunt informed me that thenatives seldom separate the idea of the god from that of his priest,who is viewed with almost divine reverence. My own observations,however, led to the conclusion, that it is more especially the case atSomu-somu, where Mr. Hunt resides, and where the natives aremore savage, if possible, in their customs, than those of the otherislands. If intercourse with white men has
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