316 AUSTRALASIAN AND POLYNESIAN 
The rain-makers, lightning and thunder makers, sun, wind and 
calm makers reside chiefly at Oiapu, and receive payment from 
people all round. There is one here, and he often gets payment 
for wind, rain and sun. 
To frighten away general sickness they beat drums, blow 
conchs, throw fire-sticks, and shout. 
DEATH. 
Only old people die natural deaths. All others are slain by 
spirits, it matters not how they die. Relatives assemble and 
mourn, and cut themselves with shells. The body is dressed in 
all the ornaments belonging to the deceased. They dig a grave 
and then place the body in it. In the evening all ornaments are 
taken off, the body is covered over, and never again uncovered. 
A house is built over the grave, and relatives sleep there. Ifa 
husband dies, the widow throws off her petticoats and goes about 
as if demented. Her first sign of mourning is to plaster herself 
all over with river mud and live naked over the grave. Friends 
bring her food, which she cooks. Three months after death a 
feast is made, and she goes into black, which is made from burnt 
cocoanut husk and water. The last mourning isa dress that 
covers from the neck to the knees, made of native twine, netted. 
Widows mourn for very long. Ihave known them continue it 
for three or four years. 
After death the spirit roves about until there is plenty of food 
got together, when a double canoe is carried to the side of the 
grave. A number of young men, artistically dressed in their 
finest, get in, and stand with paddles ready to pull. A large 
quantity of food is placed on the centre, the widow sits beside it, 
there is then a loud, long shout, and the young men paddle. 
They soon get out, and the canoe and food is carried to the river, 
and in the evening the food and areca nuts are divided amongst 
the relatives. The spirit has now gone to Lavau, far away to 
the west. 
SPIRIT WORLD. 
Motu motu (Toaripi) spirits go to the west, and there all 
meet. Those there first will be informed of the approach of 
friends, and they will come to meet them, throw their arms 
round them, and embrace them. In Lavau they build houses, 
plant food, and live as man and wife as we do here. Itis a 
good place, with a constant and plenteous supply of food. 
MYTHOLOGY. 
Hiovaki Semese, one spirit, who lives in the heavens, made 
the sea and the land. There was nothing until he descended. 
When he made the sea and land he dwelt at Meveave, and there 
