a-mariterangiisagainmyauthority；Ifeelitdiminishesthecreditofthefact，buthowitbuildsuptheimageofthisinveterateghost-seer！HebelongstothemiserablypoorislandofTaenga，yethisfather’shousewasalwayswellsupplied。AsRuagrewuphewascalledatlasttogoa-fishingwiththisfortunateparent。Theyrowedthelagoonatdusk，toanunlikelyplace，andthelaydowninthestern，andthefatherbeganvainlytocasthislineoverthebows。ItistobesupposedthatRuaslept；andwhenheawoketherewasthefigureofanotherbesidehisfather，andhisfatherwaspullinginthefishhandoverhand。’Whoisthatman，father?’Ruaasked。’Itisnoneofyourbusiness，’saidthefather；andRuasupposedthestrangerhadswumofftothemfromshore。Nightafternighttheyfaredintothelagoon，oftentothemostunlikelyplaces；nightafternightthestrangerwouldsuddenlybeseenonboard，andassuddenlybemissed；andmorningaftermorningthecanoereturnedladenwithfish。’Myfatherisaveryluckyman，’thoughtRua。Atlast，onefineday，therecamefirstoneboatpartyandthenanother，whomustbeentertained；fatherandsonputofflaterthanusualintothelagoon；andbeforethecanoewaslandeditwasfouro’clock，andthemorningstarwascloseonthehorizon。Thenthestrangerappearedseizedwithsomedistress；turnedabout，showingforthefirsttimehisface，whichwasthatofonelongdead，withshiningeyes；staredintotheeast，setthetipsofhisfingerstohismouthlikeonea-cold，utteredastrange，shudderingsoundbetweenawhistleandamoan-athingtofreezetheblood；and，theday-starjustrisingfromthesea，hesuddenlywasnot。ThenRuaunderstoodwhyhisfatherprospered，whyhisfishesrottedearlyintheday，andwhysomewerealwayscarriedtothecemeteryandlaiduponthegraves。Myinformantisamannotcertainlyaversetosuperstition，buthekeepshishead，andtakesacertainsuperiorinterest，whichImaybeallowedtocallscientific。ThelastpointremindinghimofsomeparallelpracticeinTahiti，heaskedRuaifthefishwereleft，orcarriedhomeagainafteraformaldedication。ItappearsoldMariterangipractisedbothmethods；sometimestreatinghisshadowypartnertoamereoblation，sometimeshonestlyleavinghisfishtorotuponthegrave。
　　ItisplainwehaveinEuropestoriesofasimilarcomplexion；andthePolynesianVARUAINOorAITUOLEVAOisclearlythenearkinsmanoftheTransylvanianvampire。Hereisataleinwhichthekinshipappearsbroadlymarked。OntheatollofPenrhyn，thenstillpartlysavage，acertainchiefwaslongthesalutaryterrorofthenatives。Hedied，hewasburied；andhislateneighbourshadscarcetastedthedelightsoflicenceerehisghostappearedaboutthevillage。Fearseizeduponall；acouncilwasheldofthechiefmenandsorcerers；andwiththeapprovaloftheRarotonganmissionary，whowasasfrightenedastherest，andinthepresenceofseveralwhites-myfriendMr。BenHirdbeingone-thegravewasopened，deepeneduntilwatercame，andthebodyre-interredfacedown。ThestillrecentstakingofsuicidesinEnglandandthedecapitationofvampiresintheeastofEuropeformcloseparallels。
　　SoinSamoaonlythespiritsoftheunburiedawakefear。Duringthelatewarmanyfellinthebush；theirbodies，sometimesheadless，werebroughtbackbynativepastorsandinterred；butthisIknownotwhywasinsufficient，andthespiritstilllingeredonthetheatreofdeath。Whenpeacereturnedasingularscenewasenactedinmanyplaces，andchieflyroundthehighgorgesofLotoanuu，wherethestrugglewaslongcentredandthelosshadbeensevere。Kinswomenofthedeadcamecarryingamatorsheetandguidedbysurvivorsofthefight。Theplaceofdeathwasearnestlysoughtout；thesheetwasspreadupontheground；andthewomen，movedwithpiousanxiety，sataboutandwatchedit。Ifanylivingthingalighteditwastwicebrushedaway；uponthethirdcomingitwasknowntobethespiritofthedead，wasfoldedin，carriedhomeandburiedbesidethebody；andtheaiturested。Theritewaspractisedbeyonddoubtinsimplepiety；thereposeofthesoulwasitsobject：itsmotive，reverentaffection。Thepresentkingdisownsindeedallknowledgeofadangerousaitu；hedeclaresthesoulsoftheunburiedwereonlywanderersinlimbo，lackinganentrancetothepropercountryofthedead，unhappy，nowisehurtful。Andthisseverelyclassicopiniondoubtlessrepresentstheviewsoftheenlightened。ButtheflightofmyLafaelemarksthegrosserterrorsoftheignorant。
　　Thisbeliefintheexorcisingefficacyoffuneralritesperhapsexplainsafact，otherwiseamazing，thatnoPolynesianseemsatalltoshareourEuropeanhorrorofhumanbonesandmummies。Ofthefirsttheymadetheircherishedornaments；theypreservedtheminhousesorinmortuarycaves；andthewatchersofroyalsepulchresdweltwiththeirchildrenamongthebonesofgenerations。Themummy，eveninthemaking，wasaslittlefeared。IntheMarquesas，ontheextremecoast，itwasmadebythehouseholdwithcontinualunctionandexposuretothesun；intheCarolines，uponthefarthestwest，itisstillcuredinthesmokeofthefamilyhearth。
　　Head-hunting，besides，stilllivesaroundmydoorstepinSamoa。
　　Andnottenyearsago，intheGilberts，thewidowmustdisinter，cleanse，polish，andthenceforthcarryabouther，bydayandnight，theheadofherdeadhusband。Inallthesecaseswemaysupposetheprocess，whetherofcleansingordrying，tohavefullyexorcisedtheaitu。
　　ButthePaumotuanbeliefismoreobscure。Herethemanisdulyburied，andhehastobewatched。Heisdulywatched，andthespiritgoesabroadinspiteofwatches。Indeed，itisnotthepurposeofthevigilstopreventthesewanderings；onlytomollifybypoliteattentiontheinveteratemalignityofthedead。Neglectitissupposedmayirritateandthusinvitehisvisits，andtheagedandweaklysometimesbalancerisksandstayathome。Observe，itisthedeadman’skindredandnextfriendswhothusdeprecatehisfurywithnocturnalwatchings。Eventheplacatoryvigilisheldperilous，exceptincompany，andaboywaspointedouttomeinRotoava，becausehehadwatchedalonebyhisownfather。Notthetiesofthedead，noryettheirprovedcharacter，affecttheissue。AlateResident，whodiedinFakaravaofsunstroke，wasbelovedinlifeandisstillrememberedwithaffection；nonethelesshisspiritwentabouttheislandclothedwithterrors，andtheneighbourhoodofGovernmentHousewasstillavoidedafterdark。Wemaysumupthecheerfuldoctrinethus：Allmenbecomevampires，andthevampiresparesnone。Andherewecomefacetofacewithatemptinginconsistency。Forthewhistlingspiritsarenotoriouslyclannish；Iunderstoodthemtowaituponandtoenlightenkinsfolkonly，andthatthemediumwasalwaysoftheraceofthecommunicatingspirit。Here，then，wehavethebondsofthefamily，ontheonehand，severedatthehourofdeath；ontheother，helpfullypersisting。
　　Thechild’ssoulintheTahitiantalewaswrappedinleaves。Itisthespiritsofthenewlydeadthatarethedainty。Whentheyareslain，thehouseisstainedwithblood。Rua’sdeadfishermanwasdecomposed；so-andhorribly-washisarborealdemon。Thespirit，then，isathingmaterial；anditisbythematerialensignsofcorruptionthatheisdistinguishedfromthelivingman。
　　Thisopinioniswidespread，addsagrossterrortothemoreuglyPolynesiantales，andsometimesdefacesthemoreengagingwithapainfulandincongruoustouch。Iwillgivetwoexamplessufficientlywideapart，onefromTahiti，onefromSamoa。
　　AndfirstfromTahiti。Amanwenttovisitthehusbandofhissister，thensometimedead。Inherlifethesisterhadbeendaintyintheislandfashion，andwentalwaysadornedwithacoronetofflowers。Inthemidstofthenightthebrotherawokeandwasawareofaheavenlyfragrancegoingtoandfrointhedarkhouse。ThelampImustsupposetohaveburnedout；noTahitianwouldhavelaindownwithoutonelighted。Awhilehelaywonderinganddelighted；thencalledupontherest。’Dononeofyousmellflowers?’heasked。’O，’saidhisbrother-in-law，’weareusedtothathere。’Thenextmorningthesetwomenwentwalking，andthewidowerconfessedthathisdeadwifecameaboutthehousecontinually，andthathehadevenseenher。Shewasshapedanddressedandcrownedwithflowersasinherlifetime；onlyshemovedafewinchesabovetheearthwithaveryeasyprogress，andflitteddryshodabovethesurfaceoftheriver。Andnowcomesmypoint：
　　Itwasalwaysinabackviewthatsheappeared；andthesebrothers-
　　in-law，debatingtheaffair，agreedthatthiswastoconcealtheinroadsofcorruption。
　　NowfortheSamoanstory。IoweittothekindnessofDr。F。OttoSierich，whosecollectionoffolk-talesIexpectwithahighdegreeofinterest。AmaninManu’awasmarriedtotwowivesandhadnoissue。HewenttoSavaii，marriedthereathird，andwasmorefortunate。Whenhiswifewasnearhertimeherememberedhewasinastrangeisland，likeapoorman；andwhenhischildwasbornhemustbeshamedforlackofgifts。Itwasinvainhiswifedissuadedhim。HereturnedtohisfatherinManu’aseekinghelp；
　　andwithwhathecouldgethesetoffinthenighttore-embark。
　　Nowhiswivesheardofhiscoming；theywereincensedthathedidnotstaytovisitthem；andonthebeach，byhiscanoe，interceptedandslewhim。NowthethirdwifelayasleepinSavaii；-herbabewasbornandsleptbyherside；andshewasawakenedbythespiritofherhusband。’Getup，’hesaid，’myfatherissickinManu’aandwemustgotovisithim。’’Itiswell，’saidshe；’takeyouthechild，whileIcarryitsmats。’’Icannotcarrythechild，’
　　saidthespirit；’Iamtoocoldfromthesea。’Whentheyweregotonboardthecanoethewifesmeltcarrion。’Howisthis?’shesaid。’WhathaveyouinthecanoethatIshouldsmellcarrion?’
　　’Itisnothinginthecanoe，’saidthespirit。’Itistheland-
　　windblowingdownthemountains，wheresomebeastliesdead。’ItappearsitwasstillnightwhentheyreachedManu’a-theswiftestpassageonrecord-andastheyenteredthereefthebale-firesburnedinthevillage。Againsheaskedhimtocarrythechild；butnowheneednomoredissemble。’Icannotcarryyourchild，’saidhe，’forIamdead，andthefiresyouseeareburningformyfuneral。’
　　ThecuriousmaylearninDr。Sierich’sbooktheunexpectedsequelofthetale。Hereisenoughformypurpose。Thoughthemanwasbutnewdead，theghostwasalreadyputrefied，asthoughputrefactionwerethemarkandoftheessenceofaspirit。ThevigilonthePaumotuangravedoesnotextendbeyondtwoweeks，andtheytoldmethisperiodwasthoughttocoincidewiththatoftheresolutionofthebody。Theghostalwaysmarkedwithdecay-thedangerseeminglyendingwiththeprocessofdissolution-hereistemptingmatterforthetheorist。Butitwillnotdo。Theladyoftheflowershadbeenlongdead，andherspiritwasstillsupposedtobearthebrandofperishability。TheResidenthadbeenmorethanafortnightburied，andhisvampirewasstillsupposedtogotherounds。
　　Oftheloststateofthedead，fromtheluridMangaianlegend，inwhichinfernaldeitieshocusanddestroythesoulsofall，tothevarioussubmarineandaeriallimboswherethedeadfeast，floatidle，orresumetheoccupationsoftheirlifeonearth，itwouldbewearisometotell。OnestoryIgive，foritissingularinitself，iswell-knowninTahiti，andhasthisofinterest，thatitispost-
　　Christian，datingindeedfrombutafewyearsback。Aprincessofthereigninghousedied；wastransportedtotheneighbouringisleofRaiatea；fellthereundertheempireofaspiritwhocondemnedhertoclimbcoco-palmsalldayandbringhimthenuts；wasfoundaftersometimeinthismiserableservitudebyasecondspirit，oneofherownhouse；andbyhim，uponherlamentations，reconveyedtoTahiti，whereshefoundherbodystillwaked，butalreadyswollenwiththeapproachesofcorruption。Itisalivelypointinthetalethat，onthesightofthisdishonouredtabernacle，theprincessprayedshemightcontinuetobenumberedwiththedead。
　　Butitseemsitwastoolate，herspiritwasreplacedbytheleastdignifiedofentrances，andherstartledfamilybeheldthebodymove。Theseeminglypurgatoriallabours，thehelpfulkindredspirit，andthehorroroftheprincessatthesightofhertaintedbody，areallpointstoberemarked。
　　Thetruthis，thetalesarenotnecessarilyconsistentinthemselves；andtheyarefurtherdarkenedforthestrangerbyanambiguityoflanguage。Ghosts，vampires，spirits，andgodsareallconfounded。AndyetIseemtoperceivethatwithexceptions
　　thosewhomwewouldcountgodswerelessmaleficent。PermanentspiritshauntanddomurderincornersofSamoa；butthoselegitimategodsofUpoluandSavaii，whosewarsandcricketingsoflateconvulsedsociety，Ididnotgathertobedreaded，ornotwithalikefear。ThespiritofAanathatatesoulsiscertainlyafearsomeinmate；butthehighgods，evenofthearchipelago，seemhelpful。Mahinui-fromwhomourconvict-catechisthadbeennamed-thespiritofthesea，likeaProteusendowedwithendlessavatars，cametotheassistanceoftheshipwreckedandcarriedthemashoreintheguiseofarayfish。Thesamedivinityborepriestsfromisletoisleaboutthearchipelago，andbyhisaid，withinthecentury，personshavebeenseentofly。Thetutelardeityofeachisleislikewisehelpful，andbyaparticularformofwedge-shapedcloudonthehorizonannouncesthecomingofaship。