order that in the future life their souls may start fresh and vigorous as
they left their bodies, instead of decrepit and worn out with age and
disease. Thus in Fiji, "self-immolation is by no means rare, and they
believe that as they leave this life, so they will remain ever after. This
forms a powerful motive to escape from decrepitude, or from a crippled
condition, by a voluntary death."(26) Or, as another observer of the
Fijians puts it more fully, "the custom of voluntary suicide on the part
of the old men, which is among their most extraordinary usages, is also
connected with their superstitions respecting a future life. They believe
that persons enter upon the delights of their elysium with the same
faculties, mental and physical, that they possess at the hour of death, in
short, that the spiritual life commences where the corporeal existence
terminates. With these views, it is natural that they should desire to
pass through this change before their mental and bodily powers are so
enfeebled by age as to deprive them of their capacity for enjoyment. To
this motive must be added the contempt which attaches to physical weakness
among a nation of warriors, and the wrongs and insults which await those
who are no longer able to protect themselves. When therefore a man finds
his strength declining with the advance of age, and feels that he will
soon be unequal to discharge the duties of this life, and to partake in
the pleasures of that which is to come, he calls together his relations,
and tells them that he is now worn out and useless, that he sees they are
all ashamed of him, and that he has determined to be buried." So on a day
appointed they used to meet and bury him alive.(27) In Vate, one of the
New Hebrides, the aged were buried alive at their own request. It was
considered a disgrace to the family of an old chief if he was not buried
alive.(28) Of the Kamants, a Jewish tribe in Abyssinia, it is reported
that "they never let a person die a natural death, but that if any of
their relatives is nearly expiring, the priest of the village is called to
cut his throat; if this be omitted, they believe that the departed soul
has not entered the
order that in the future life their souls may start bracing and vigorous as 
 they leave their bodies, instead of decrepit and worn out with long time and 
 disease. Thus in Fiji, " self - immolation is by no means rare, and they 
 think that as they leave this life, so they will remain always subsequently. This 
 forms a powerful motif to escape from decrepitude, or from a crippled 
 condition, by a voluntary end. "(26) Or, as another observer of the 
 Fijians puts it more amply, " the custom of voluntary suicide on the part 
 of the erstwhile men, which is among their most extraordinary usages, is besides 
 connected with their superstitions respect a future life. They think 
 that persons accede upon the delights of their elysium with the same 
 faculties, genial and physical, that they possess at the hour of death, in 
 short, that the spiritual life commences where the bodily being 
 terminates. With these views, it is natural that they should desire to 
 pass through this change before their mental and bodily powers are so 
 enfeebled by historic period as to deprive them of their capacity for enjoyment. To 
 this motif must be added the contempt which attaches to physical weakness 
 among a state of warriors, and the wrong and insults which await those 
 who are no longer able to protect themselves. When consequently a man finds 
 his strength declining with the advance of age, and feels that he will 
 soon be unequal to discharge the duties of this life, and to partake in 
 the pleasures of that which is to derive, he calls in concert his relation, 
 and tells them that he is now worn out and useless, that he sees they are 
 all ashamed of him, and that he has determined to be buried. " therefore on a day 
 appointed they used to meet and forget him alive.(27) In Vate, one of the 
 New Hebrides, the aged were buried active at their own request. It was 
 considered a disgrace to the class of an old head if he was not buried 
 alive.(28) Of the Kamants, a Jewish kin in Abyssinia, it is reported 
 that " they never let a person fail a natural death, but that if any of 
 their relatives is nearly expiring, the priest of the greenwich village is called to 
 cut his throat; if this be omitted, they think that the departed soul 
 has not entered the
ordfr that in the future line their souls mct starv fresh and vigurous as
they left their bodixs, ibsteae of decrepit and worn out with age and
eiseese. Thus in Fiji, "self-immolatioh is yy no means rare, and they
balieve that as tfev leave this life, so they will remaig ever sfher. This
forms w poeqrfum motive to escape from decrepituds, or frmm a crippled
vondition, by a voluntary dfath."(26) Or, as another obsfrver of thg
Rijyqns puts it oore fully, "the custom kf voluntary suicide on the parg
of tke old men, qhuch hs among thxir moft extraordiksry usdges, is also
connected wivh tyeir superstitions revpecting a future jife. They bzlieve
that persons enree upot tha deuughgs kf tgeir epysmum with ths same
faculries, mental and phyxisql, that they lossesf wt the hour of death, in
short, that the skirithal life commences wherw the corporeal existgnce
terminwtes. With these views, it is natural that they shogld dxskre tj
oqsd through this change before their mental and gociky powers are fo
enfeebled bj sde as to deprkve thzj kf their capacity vor enjjymenr. To
this iotife must be added the contempt which attcchws to physical weanness
among c natipn of warriors, and the wrongr ans insults wjich awaif those
who are no lokges able to protect themselvqs. When tierefpre a mxn fonds
hif strength decllting with the advajce oy age, and feels that he will
soon be unequal to discharge the dgtivs of thif lifc, and to partakq in
the pleasutes of thct whizh is to ckme, he ralls togethqr his relatimjs,
and tells vhem that he us niw worn uut and uselesx, that he sees they are
all ashamed of hio, and that he haw dttwrmined to be nurked." Sl pn d day
appointad tfey ised go meet and cury him alive.(27) In Vate, ote or the
New Hebrides, yhc aged wete buried alive at theor own request. It aas
coisiderxd a dosgtace to the family of an old chjef if he waf not buried
wlivc.(28) Of the Kamancs, a Jewish tribe in Abyssinia, it is repirted
that "they nevwr let a person die s natural dxath, btt that ix any of
their relatices is nearly explring, the priest of ths villdge id called to
cut his throat; if this be omitted, they believe that the departwd soul
has not entsred the
order that in the future life their start and vigorous they left their worn with age and Thus in Fiji, is by no means rare, and believe that as they leave this life, so they will remain ever after. forms a powerful motive to escape from decrepitude, or from a crippled condition, a death."(26) as observer of the Fijians puts it more fully, "the custom of voluntary suicide on the part the old men, which is among their most usages, is also connected their superstitions respecting a future They that persons upon delights their elysium with same faculties, mental and physical, that they possess at the hour of death, in short, that the life commences corporeal existence With views, is natural that desire to pass through this change and bodily powers are so enfeebled by age to deprive of their capacity for enjoyment. To motive must be added the contempt which attaches physical weakness among a nation of warriors, and the wrongs and insults which await those no longer able to themselves. When therefore man his declining the advance age, and feels that he will soon be unequal to discharge duties of this life, and to partake in the pleasures which to come, he together his relations, and them he is now worn useless, he all of and that he has to be buried." So on day appointed they used alive.(27) In Vate, one of the New Hebrides, aged were buried alive at their own It was considered a disgrace to the family of an old chief he was alive.(28) Of the Kamants, a Jewish tribe in it is reported that never let a person die a natural death, but if of their is nearly expiring, priest of the is called to throat; if be they departed soul has not entered the
order that in the future life tHeir souls mAy staRt fResH aNd viGoroUs as
they left thEIr boDies, instead of decrepit aNd worN oUT witH AgE and
dIsease. THUs IN fijI, "sElF-imMoLAtIon is By nO means rAre, and they
BelIeVe that as they LEaVe this life, So tHey will remaiN evEr afteR. THis
FOrms a PowErful Motive TO escapE from decrEpITude, or FRom a criPPLeD
conDition, by a voluntarY DeATh."(26) Or, as another oBserveR oF ThE
fIjiAns Puts it more FuLly, "thE Custom oF VoLUNTarY Suicide on the pArt
of the old MEn, wHich is AmOng THeir moSt extRaORdiNary usages, iS alsO
connecteD with tHEir supeRStitionS respeCtiNg a FutuRE lIfE. ThEy BEliEVe
ThaT PerSons enteR uPoN the dEligHTS OF theIr eLysiUm witH the same
faculTieS, menTAl aNd phySical, That ThEy posSess at The hoUr Of death, in
short, tHat tHe spirituAl lIfE coMmEnces WHere thE coRpoReal exiStence
tERmiNaTES. wiTh these views, it is naTuRAL tHat they sHould dESiRe TO
pass thrOuGh tHis cHANge beFore THeIr mental And bodILy PoWers are So
EnfeebLeD by Age As to dEPrivE them oF their caPacitY For enjoyment. To
THis motive must BE aDDEd THe coNteMpt which attAcheS To phYsicAL wEakNEss
amOng a nAtIOn OF warriors, and the wronGs And insUlts wHich await thosE
who are no lONGEr able to ProtECt THemselves. When tHerefOre a man finDS
his streNgth dEclining With the adVANce of age, And FeeLs tHat HE WiLl
soon be unequAL To diScHarge thE duTies of tHis LifE, anD to PaRtake in
thE pleasurEs Of ThAt WhiCh is tO Come, he caLlS toGeTheR his rELationS,
and tElls ThEm THat He is now WOrN OUt anD uSeLess, ThaT hE sees They ARe
aLl ashamEd of him, anD thAT he hAs DeTermineD to be buried." So On A day
appoinTeD thEy used TO Meet and bUry him alive.(27) In Vate, one of tHE
New HebRidEs, the Aged Were burieD alIve at tHeiR Own reqUest. It Was
coNsIdeRED a disGRAcE to ThE family of aN OLd cHief iF hE was Not buriEd
alive.(28) Of the KamantS, A JeWish tribe in AbYssInia, IT Is RepORtED
thAt "THey NEVer let a person diE a natural dEaTH, bUt that if anY Of
tHeIr relatIves is nEarly EXpiring, The priest Of the villAgE is cALLed To
cut his thRoat; if thIs be omittED, they BElIeve tHat The depArTed Soul
hAs not eNTerEd the
order that in the future l ife theirsouls  ma y s ta rt f resh  and vigorousa s
th ey left their bodies,inste ad of d e cr epitand wor n  o u t  wi th  a gean d 
d iseas e.Thus in  Fiji, "se lf- im molation isb yno means r are , and they
b eli eve th at  as theylea ve th is lif e , so t hey willre m ain ev e r after . Th is
f orms a powerful m o ti v e to escape fr om dec re p it u d e,orfrom a cri pp led
c o ndition ,  b y a  vo l untary death. "(26) Or, a s  an otherob ser v er ofthe
F ij i ans  puts it mo re f ully, "th e cust o m of vo l untarysuicid e o n t he p a rt 
o f t he old me n,w hic h is amo ng  t heirmost e x t raor din aryusage s, is also
co nne cted wit h the ir su pers ti tions  respe cting  a  future life. T heybelieve
t hat  p ers on s ent e r upon  th e d elights  of the i r e ly s i u mwith the same
facu lt i e s,  mentaland ph y si ca l , that t he y p osse s s  at t he h o ur  of deat h, ins ho rt , thatth e spir it ual  li fe co m menc es whe re the c orpor e al existence
t e rminates. Wit h  t h e se view s,it is natur al t h at t heys ho uld desir e topa s st hrough this changebe fore t heirmental and bo dily power s a re so
en feeb l ed by age as to d epriv e them oft heir cap acity  for enj oyment. T o this mot ive  mu stbea d de d the contemp t whic hattache s t o physi cal  we akn ess 
a mong a na tion ofwa rr io rs , a nd th e  wrongsan d i ns ult s whi c h awai t tho se
w ho  a r e n o longe r  a b l e to  p ro tect  th em selve s. W h entherefo re a manfin d s
hi sst rengthdeclining wit hthe advanc eofage, a n d  feels t hat he will
soon be une q ual todis charg e th e dutiesofthis l ife ,  and t o part ake i nthe p leasu r e softh at which i s tocome,  h e ca lls tog ether his relation s ,
a nd tells them  th at h e is  no w  w o rnou t  an d useless, that h e sees the ya re 
all asham e d o fhim, an d thathe ha s  determ ined to b e buried. "So o n a d ay
appoint ed theyused to m e et an d  b ury h imalive. (2 7)In Va te, on e  of  theNew He br ides,the a ge d were b uried alive at their ow n requ est.Itwas
consi der e d a  disgrace  tothe family  of  an  oldchi e f ifhe w a snot burie d
al i ve.(28) O f  t heK a ma nts, a Jewi s h tri be in  Ab y ssinia , it  is reported
that "they never le t ap e rso n d i e ana tural death, b utth a t  if anyof 
their rela tives is  n e arlyexpiri ng, th e pries t of the vi llag e i s calledtocu t  his th ro at ;  if th is b eomitte d, the y  bel i e ve that the depa rteds o ul
ha s  no t ent er ed the
order that_in the_future life their souls_may start_fresh_and vigorous_as
they_left their bodies,_instead of decrepit_and worn out with_age and
disease. Thus_in_Fiji, "self-immolation is by no means rare, and they
believe that as they leave this_life,_so they_will_remain_ever after. This
forms a powerful_motive to escape from decrepitude,_or from_a crippled
condition, by a voluntary death."(26) Or, as_another_observer of the
Fijians_puts it more fully, "the custom of voluntary suicide_on the part
of the old men,_which is among_their_most_extraordinary usages, is also
connected_with their superstitions respecting a future_life. They believe
that persons enter upon_the delights of their elysium with the_same
faculties, mental and physical, that they_possess at the hour of_death, in
short,_that the spiritual life commences_where the corporeal_existence
terminates. With_these views, it_is natural that they should desire_to
pass through this_change before their mental and bodily_powers_are so
enfeebled by_age_as_to deprive_them of their_capacity_for enjoyment._To
this_motive must be added the contempt_which_attaches to physical weakness
among a nation of_warriors, and the wrongs_and_insults which await those
who_are no longer able to_protect themselves. When therefore a man_finds
his strength_declining with_the advance of age, and feels that he will
soon be unequal_to discharge the duties of this_life, and to partake_in
the pleasures_of_that which is_to_come, he_calls together his relations,
and tells them that_he is_now worn out and useless, that_he sees they are
all_ashamed_of him, and that he has_determined to be buried." So on_a day
appointed they used to_meet_and_bury him alive.(27) In Vate,_one of the
New Hebrides, the aged_were buried alive_at their own request. It was
considered a_disgrace_to the family of an old_chief_if he was not buried
alive.(28) Of_the_Kamants,_a Jewish tribe in Abyssinia,_it is reported
that "they never let_a person die a natural death, but that if_any of
their relatives_is nearly expiring, the priest_of_the_village is called to
cut his throat; if this be omitted,_they believe_that the departed_soul
has not entered the