A Custom: An Opportunity

A CUSTOM— AN OPPORTUNITY. BY ELDER LEHI LARSEN, JR., MISSIONARY IN NEW ZEALAND. I have labored among the natives of New Zealand, for morethan a year, and have become accustomed to their ways of living, as well as their curious customs. During the winter months, we elders are kept very busily engaged with the sick, owing to the cold and severe weather. On one occasion, the only child of one of the natives was taken very ill, the father being away at the time, preaching the gospel in the district of Wanganni and Hawkes' Bay, whither he had been called by the president of the mission. Owing to the sickness of his child, he was sent for immediately. My companion, Elder John A. Southwick, and I were watching over the child, day and night. It became seriously ill. It is the custom on such occasions to call together to the bedside of the sick one the whole of the tribe, or all the relatives. On such occasions everybody goes. At one time, I asked a native regarding their relatives, and he answered, ' 'Maoris are all relatives to me;" therefore, there is no end to their large gatherings. On the following Sunday, the child began to sink, and at three o'clock in the afternoon, died. At the moment of his death, the father, mother, and all who were close to him, were weeping and calling out the form of their farewell speech: "Our dear son Amorehu,go to your fathers in safety." Then all the natives, large and small, old and young, women, men and children, cried and wept aloud. This wailing they call tangihanga, or time of weeping. The natives come from all parts of the country, to show respect to the deceased, and spend days, weeks, and even months, making speeches to the spirit of the deceased and its relatives. They not only spend the time in weeping, but also in feasting. They kill their fattest sheep and beeves, purchase tons of potatoes, great amounts of sugar, canned fruits, jams, jellies, crackers and flour. Besides this, they have their various foods from the ocean which they deem their choicest foods. During these times of weeping, the custom gives the elders a chance to take part in