civ A GENERAL HISTORY

thefe feafts a {mall quantity of meat or drink is facrificed, before they
begin to eat, by throwing it into the fire, or on the earth.

Thefe feafts differ according to circumftances; fometimes each man’s
allowance is no more than he can difpatch in a couple of hours. At
other times the quantity is fufficient to fupply each of them with food
for a weck, though it muft be devoured ina day. On thefe occafions
it is very difficult to procure fubftitutes, and the whole muft be eaten
whatever time it may require. At fome of thefe entertainments there
is a more rational arrangement, when the guefts are allowed to carry
home with them the fuperfluous part of their portions. Great care is
always taken that the bones may be burned, as it would be confidered

a profanation were the dogs permitted to touch them.

The public feafts are conduéted in the fame manner, but with fome
additional ceremony. Several chiefs officiate at them, and procure the
neceflary provifions, as well as prepare a proper place of reception
for the numerous company. Here the guefts difcourfe upon public
topics, repeat the heroic deeds of their forefathers, and excite the rifing
generation to follow theirexample. The entertainments on thefe occa-
fions confift of dried meats, as it would not be praéticable to drefsa
fufficient quantity of frefh meat for fuch a large aflembly; though the
women and children are excluded.

Similar feafts ufed to be made at funerals, and annually, in honour of
the dead; but they have been, for fome time, growing into difufe, and
I never had an opportunity of being prefent at any of them.

The