340 : AUSTRALASIAN AND POLYNESIAN 
usual spot, cooked ‘“‘taro” and the invariable bowl of “kava” 
having been disposed of by the new priest-king, the temporal 
chief shouted, ‘“‘ Ka uru Rongo”—* Let Rongo enter” (z.¢., inspire). 
The new high-priest, seated on a sacred stone,* then fell into 
convulsions, and spake in a most unearthly voice (? ventriloquism), 
the words so uttered being accepted as a divine oracle! Thus 
did the /empora/ sovereign install the new priest-king (z.e., spiritual 
ruler). A grand feast would follow. 
Less of ceremony was observed with priests of divinities of 
inferior rank, but substantially the same process was carried out. 
The technical phrase for this was “ Va’i ite pia atua ou”—‘‘ open 
up the new god-box.” 
On the eve of an important battle “the omens were taken” 
(ka pa te vai) by the warrior chief himself. These omens 
consisted in the drowning of insects, &c., in water, or a fish hunt 
on the reef. (See my “Savage Life,” page 104). 
The native phrase, ‘‘ Ka pa te vai,” means, literally, ‘“‘ enclose the 
water,” because in taking the omens by the drowning of insects, 
&e., it was customary to arrange the cut stems of a banana ina 
square on the ground. A single leaf of the Alocasia indica 
(Seeman), holding half a bucket of water, was deposited in the 
hollow, the water being kept from spilling by the cut banana 
stems. A number of centipedes, green lizards, and dragon-flies 
were now dashed into the water. The total of creatures drowned 
prefigured the number of warriors doomed to perish in to-morrow’s 
battle. There was a special prayer (now lost) for this ceremony. 
Sometimes two shells (Zirbo petholatus), intended to represent 
the two hostile camps, were deposited by the warrior chief on his 
own marae, with an appropriate prayer, in the dusk of evening. 
On returning at daylight, it is averred that Moke found the shell 
representing his foes turned upside down, a sure omen of their 
destruction, which accordingly took place. 
On most of the eastern Pacific islands were “ wise women,” 
who were consulted respecting the minor affairs of daily life. 
These women were supposed to be inspired by a female divinity. 
A small present must be made ere consulting the priestess. On 
Mangaia the goddess Ruatamaine was consulted to discover a thief, 
and to secure success in fishing. There were numberless Ruaatu, 
or fishermen gods (of stone) in all the islands, each demanding an 
offering of a newly-caught fish from its votaries, or, in default of 
that, a hollow pebble to be strung into a sort of necklace, or the 
midrib of a cocoanut leaf, and thrown into the darkness, with 
these words, “ Here is thy share, O Ruaatu !” 
The native name for sorcerer is “taugata purepure,” 7.2, “a 
man who prays.” A heathen only prays for the ill-luck or death 
of his foes. The prayers offered by the priests to the gods 
*Te koatu karakia—the stone for praying. 
