Feb 24, 1789 Home Logbook Feb 26, 1789

Bounty Logbook Feb 25, 1789

219)

Remarks in Toahroah Harbour Wednesday 25^th. February 1789

The most part fair W^r. some Rain in the latter. Wind ENE and East. Therm^r. 80¾° to 84¼°.

Employed Caulking the Bends. Armourer at the Forge. Cooper repairing Casks. Hands about the Rigging, and some cutting Wood. Supplies and Natives about us as usual. Sick list 5 Venereals and one with an inflamed arm. All the Royal Family were with me to day. Iddeeah was uneasy about her youngest child being ill, she would not however accept of any assistance that the Surgeon could give her, but told me she had sent for a man at Tettahah who would be here to day and tell her what to do. This person is said to have great Physical knowledge. There are numberless objects however to prove the incapacity of all their Physical People or Tata Kapaow as they are called.

A man died of a Consumption this morning about two miles from the Post. I was told of it by M^r. Peckover who I had desired to look out for such a circumstance that I might see the burial ceremony. I therefore set out to see it accompanied by Iddeeah. By the time we got to the place the Body was removed into the Toopapow and I saw no kind of ceremony. It lay bare except a marro round the loins and a peice of cloth round the neck. He was laid out Streight and his eyes closed. The right hand was brought up over the pit of the stomach and the left upon his Breast. Two fingers had each a Cocoa nutt ring on them with a small tuft of Red feathers, under the Toopapow a hole was dug in which the Body was at the end of a month to be buried. The person was of the lower Class. The Toopapow was however neat, and the offerings to the Eatua which were already presented, consisted of a few Cocoa Nutts and Platted leaves laid on the ground.

I have discovered lately that these people sometimes bury or rather bring to the Toopapow thier dead in Coffins, they are however not shaped as ours are, but in form of a long Box. We have seen

(220

children this way, but only few men. This is perhaps owing to the great labour it takes them to make a Plank for a Tree only makes two as it is cut through by axes.

Iddeeah and several others say they took the Idea of making a Coffin from us, but many others say it is customary in Otaheite. I am nevertheless inclined to beleive Iddeeahs account as in former Voyages such thing was ever seen or heard of.

Feb 24, 1789 Home Logbook Feb 26, 1789