RADACK AIVD OTHER ISLANDS. l67 



we returned, towards the end of the same year, to 

 Otdia, the expedition was assembled in Aur. 

 Lamary had missed the island of Mesid, and being 

 carried out of his course to other groups, had 

 given up the reinforcements which he had ex- 

 pected there. 



We will relate, at length, what we have learned 

 of the religion, and social order, the manners and 

 customs of our friends. 



The inhabitants of Radack adore an invisible 

 God, in heaven, and offer him a simple tribute 

 of fruits, without temples and without priests. 

 In their language, lageach signifies God : the 

 name of the god is Anis. When war or any 

 other important affair is to be undertaken, solemn 

 offerings are made, always in the open air. One 

 of the assembly, not the chief, consecrates the 

 fruits to the god, by holding them up, and invo- 

 cation ; the form is, Gidten Ants ynne jeo, the as- 

 sembled people repeat the last words. When the 

 father of a family goes out on the fishery, or under- 

 takes any thing important, he offers among his 

 family. There are, on several islands, holy trees, 

 cocoa-palms, into the crown of which Anis de- 

 scends. Round the foot of such a tree four beams 

 are laid in a square. There does not appear to be 

 any prohibition to enter the space enclosed, and 

 the fruits of the tree are eaten by the people. 



The operation of tattooing is associated in 

 M i 



