CUSTOMS AND SOCIAL HABITS OF THE RACES OF POLYNESIA. 493 



deities. They were objects conimanding their fears and not their 

 atiection. In Samoa, there existed a liigher state of civilisation 

 and intelligence, and some notion of a Supreme Being pi-evailed, 

 yet there were many tutelary deities and subordinate spirits, 

 represented in natural objects, to which much defereuce was i)aid 

 and worship offered. At the opening of their fonos (or Par- 

 liamentary meetings) the presence of the Supreme Being was lirst 

 acknowledged. At the evening meal the head of tiie family would, 

 before the meal was partaken of by any, first make an oli'ering of 

 food to the god of the family. At the kava-drinking, ia like 

 manner, the Krst cup was poured out on the ground, or into the 

 tire, as a drink-olt'ering to their god. Children were named after 

 their respective tutelary deities, to whom they were thus consecrated; 

 and a mother on giving birth to a son, would call on her god, 

 and say, " I have got a man for thee !" The help and protection 

 of these tutelary deities were supplicated in every important 

 undertaking ; or rather, they were entreated not to bring disaster — 

 in house-building, planting, voyaging, and especially in war. The 

 Samoans and others had some notion of a future state, of a 

 native Hades and Valhalla. 



The Papuan religion and mythology are of a coarse and 

 sombre character. Idolatory exists only in some tribes, in others 

 it is dittieult to discern any notion of a god-demon-worship in the 

 prevailing form ; and a dark and torturing superstition regarding 

 evil spirits, sorcery, and witchcraft renders life miserable, and 

 exposes many, innocent of evil design or power, to suspicion and 

 dread. Remnants of food must be destroyed or hidden from 

 sight lest they be employed as sorceries to bewitch the eater. 

 Certain weird spots in the bush, or on the mountains or seashore 

 are tremblingly passed or avoided, as the dwelling-places of demons 

 and spirits of the dead. A fetish will scare the strongest-minded, 

 and a curse pronounced by a malicious member of the family will 

 sometimes terrify even to death. These degrading superstitions 

 are such as prevail among the South African races, and it is very 

 easy to trace their origin thence. 



To notice the legends and mythology of these races would occupy 

 considerable space, and I must, therefore, pass over these subjects 

 and conclude this paper by simply remarking that the spread of 

 the gospel among the Polynesians has worked wonderful changes 

 in their religious characters and social life. Missionary work was 

 commenced in the Pacific Islands at the close of the hist century. 

 Now, throughout Polynesia, from east to w-est, the Scrij^tures have 

 been circulated in the various languages, and European and 

 American missionaries have laboured with increasini>; success, so 

 that heathenism is rapidly dying out before the growth of Christain 

 light and life. 



