The Amoa we saw thus performd at a Marriage Ceremony, and differs very little from that performd through the different degrees of Childhood — The Friends of Both parties being assembled at the Morai the Young Man and his Wife were placed on a large quantity of Cloth spread for the Purpose Near the Morai alongside of each other, the Man on the right of His Wife — opposite them at the Distance of 30 or 40 Yards and at the other end of the Cloth sat the Father, Mother, Uncles & Aunts of the Bride, a Priest then having Furnishd the Mother with several pieces of Sugar Cane and some leaves from the Rowavva (or Sacred Tree) she takes a sharks tooth and Cutting Her head on the Fore part, lets a Drop of Blood fall on each piece of the Sugar Cane and placing a peice on a leaf give[s] two to the Father and each of the Uncles & Aunts and keeps two for herself, these they place on the Palms of their hands and holding them up to their Foreheads rise up and proceed slowly along the Cloth till they arrive where the Young Couple sit, keeping their bodys half bent all the way; and having deposited the leaves and Sugar Cane at ths feet of the Young Pair they retire without speaking in the same Manner to their Seats. The Priest then advances with a Branch of the Rowavva in his hand and Makes a long Prayer; which having finishd. He goes to the Young Couple and biding ’God bless them in their Union’ (or as they express it in their Sleeping together) he takes up the leaves and pieces of Sugar Cane and proceeds to the Morai, where he burys them with prayers and makes an Offering to the Deity of a Hog &c. and in the Meantime the Couple rise and go to their Parents and they Embrace them and bestow their blessings on them. The Cloth is then gathered up, and Presented to the Son in law, who generally throws part of it out for the Young People present to scramble for, and they are proud that can get a Narrow Strip of it to put on in Honor to the rite and wear it till it is expended telling all they know how they obtaind it — the Company then return to the Bridgrooms house and he sends three or Four Hogs to his Father in law, who has them immediately killd, and a Feast Made of which all the Males of both Familys partake; a Feast is also prepared for the Weomen and all partake of the Festivity.

Indigenous Histories