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"At Mangaia the spirits
of those who ignobly died 'on a pillow' wandered about
disconsolately over the rocks near the margin of the sea until the
day appointed by their leader comes (once a year). Many months might elapse ere the projected departures of the ghost took place. This weary interval was spent in dances and revisiting their former homes, where the living dwell affectionately remembered by the dead. At night fall they would wander amongst the trees and plantations nearest to these dwellings, sometimes venturing to peep inside. As a rule these ghosts were well disposed towards their own living relatives; but often became vindictive if a pet child was ill-treated by a stepmother or other relatives etc. ... Eventually the spirits would depart from known reinga, spirit leaping-places. Such leaping-places also existed on other islands. Even after this departure some spirit intrusions from the underworld were possible." (Oral Traditions) |
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"...there are many little heaps of stones here and
there on the bank along the Sea Coast, two or three of the uppermost
stones of these piles are generally white, perhaps always so when
the pile is compleat: it can hardly be doubted but these piles of
stones have some
meaning tho' we do not know it." (Beaglehole II) Beaglehole states that these piles of stones are temporary burial places. |