Hawaiian Origins. 



COMPARATIVE TRADITIONS OF VITI, FIJI, NEW ZEALAND, TONGA ISLANDS, MARQUESAS. 



VITl' 



In THE Viti group the kings arc called tiii oi the land over which they reign. In 

 Tonga and some other of the Polynesian isles the highest chief is called fiii. The Tui- 

 Tonga family descended from the gods. 



The \"iti gods were in the following gradation: Lan-Hanalu (Polynesian. 

 Kane?) ; Kalu, god of the kapu, there called "tamhu;" the inferior gods were Kaln Xinza, 

 Reizo, Vazugui-Berata, Vazugui-Ton-ha, Komei-P>uni-Kura, Balu-Bnnti, Leka, Ulegnen- 

 Bnna, Banu-Be, Tamho-Kana-Lauhi, Buta-Guibalu, Dauzina, Komainen-Tulugubuca ; 

 the principal goddesses were Gulia-Zavazo, and Goli-Koro. 



These gods inhabited a heaven called Numa-Lauhi. (What relation does that 

 bear to the Nuuiiicalani of the Hawaiians?) 



Uudin-Hei, or Oudin-Hi, is the creator of heaven, earth and all the other gods. 

 After death, every soul goes to join Oudin-Hei. 



The Viti priests are called ambctti. 



The Vitians make no human sacrifices ; they worship no images. They have sa- 

 cred houses called aiiibiirc. (Compare Hawaiian, "pule"). At the death of a king or 

 queen they cut off a finger or a toe, but not in times of sickness, like the Tongans. 

 The Vitians use no betel, but drink awa like the other F'olynesians. 



At the age of fifteen years, the Vitians practice circumcision by slitting the 

 prepuce. 



Though they marrv at an early age, they do not cohabit with their wives until 

 they are twenty years old, for fear they should die — a religious injunction of the kapu. 

 Wives are not sold by their husbands. 



The women do not eat with the men, but afterwards. 



'i'he awa plant is called au^^ona. 



Coconut trees are climbed by means of a cord between the feet. 



Tabuing in Viti is practised as in Hawaii and elsewhere in Polynesia. The tabu- 

 tree is called alau::i. 



The Vitians know how to make earthen vessels (i:)ottery), probably derived from 

 the Papuans of New Guinea. 



Anthropophagy is comnKjn in the Viti group; enemies and others are equally ac- 

 ceptable. 



The Viti canoes are fitted with out-riggers. 



The hair is tied \\\) with white thin ka]ia, rescml)ling a turban, like the Papuans 

 of Vegiu. 



'The traditions of the inhaliilaiits nf Vili arc iIidsc given Ijy G. L,. Domcny de Rienzi, L'Univcrs Pittores- 

 (|ue, Vol. 3, Paris, 1836. 

 (258) 



