The Belief in Immortality and the Worship of the Dead, Volume 2 (of 3) The Belief Among the Polynesians

In this richly detailed volume, the author turns his scholarly gaze to the Polynesian world, exploring how island societies conceive of life after death and honor their ancestors. Drawing on lectures delivered across Britain, he weaves together ethnographic observations, mythic narratives, and ritual practices to reveal a tapestry of belief that links the living and the dead through sacred spaces, taboo, and communal memory.

From the Maori of New Zealand to the Tongans, Samoans, and Hawaiians, each chapter presents a vivid portrait of local customs—temple rites, burial ceremonies, and the notion of souls becoming protective deities. The work balances careful analysis with vivid description, allowing listeners to grasp how concepts of immortality shape social order, moral values, and everyday behavior across the Pacific.

By the end of the first half, the reader will have a nuanced understanding of how these diverse cultures negotiate the mystery of death, offering a compelling window into a world where the past is ever present.