On the death of a rajah, his body is immediately con veyed to a building where all public business is trans acted; the people singing and throwing stones before it on the way, and at the same time bearing their warlike implements. Eight girls sit with the body, four on each side, two days and a night, fanning it, while two lamps are kept constantly burning. The rajah generally pro vides himself with a coffin during his life, and he is car ried to the grave by all the warriors of the place, who exhibit a sham fight. A fire is kindled at the grave all ter the earth is returned, and watch kept there during the night : next morning a house is erected, where the widow of the deceased, attended by her female kindred, reside during a month. But when about to leave it, a re markable ceremony, which we believe is elsewhere un exampled, takes place. A woman or girl is barbarously murdered by the natives as a sacrifice to the manes of the deceased. Two young chiefs commence the cruel ceremony, by plunging their spears into the body of the innocent victim, who meets her fate with fortitude ; and she soon falls under the weapons of others. Der head is then severed and presented to the successor of the de ceased, who is no longer recognised by his former name.
Very little of the history of this large island is known to Europeans. The natives of some of the states claim high antiquity, founding their origin in fabulous tradi tions transmitted from their ancestors. In the year 1603, Coach had its thirteenth chief or king, and in about the middle of the last century its twenty-second. The ter ritory of Bony had its sixteenth sovereign in 1713, and its twenty-second in 1775. It thence appears how rapidly succession takes place, and instead of between three or four generations occupying a century as in Eu rope, the number is infinitely greater. Probably the
frequent wars of petty states contribute much more than the effect of climate to shorten the natural term of for it appears that very aged persons are occasionally found in the warmer regions.
In the year 1512, the Portuguese established them selves in Celebes, and are said to have assisted the na tives to build the fort of Macassar, which is rather more than a furlong from the beach, and is now the principal residence of the Europeans. The Dutch, csteernin settlement on the island of great consequence to their trade, made themselves masters of the fort in 1667 ; and from thence gradually extended their encroachments on the natives. Some years ago they had no less than 370 towns or villages under their coiitroul. But the path es did not view their grow ing influence without jealou sy, and resorting to arms, endeavoured to repel their suc cessive aggressions. Some of the inure warlike tribes laid waste their possessions and threatened to attack the fort, which they summoned to surrender. The Dutch fnund means to retain other tribes in their service, by whose assistance they made a sally when in the greatest danger, and obtained a signal victory. A more artlul policy than force of arms was adopted, in exciting dis trust among the respective tribes, so that by alter, ate!) aiding one, they could repress the power of another. Thus they lived in a state of security amidst the uninter rupted wars which have prevailed during the preceding century.
Settlements on the island of Celebes were of i cry great importance to the Dutch, front its vicinity to their most productive spice islands, on which account, though a yearly loss resulted from the expellee of keep ing up this government, they anxiously repaired them. (c)