324 THE EVOLUTION OF THEOLOGY vm 



Tongan, therefore, inspiration indubitably was 

 possession. 



When one of the higher gods was invoked, 

 through his priest, by a chief who wished to 

 consult the oracle, or, in old Israelitic phraseology, 

 to " inquire of/' the god, a hog was killed and 

 cooked over night, and, together with plantains, 

 yams, and the materials for making the peculiar 

 drink kava (of which the Tongans were very fond), 

 was carried next day to the priest. A circle, as 

 for an ordinary kava-drinking entertainment, was 

 then formed ; but the priest, as the representative 

 of the god, took the highest place, while the 

 chiefs sat outside the circle, as an expression of 

 humility calculated to please the god. 



As soon as they are all seated the priest is considered as 

 inspired, the god being supposed to exist within him from that 

 moment. He remains for a considerable time in silence with 

 his hands clasped before him, his eyes are cast down and he 

 rests perfectly still. During the time the victuals are being 

 shared out and the kava preparing, the matabooles sometimes 

 begin to consult him ; sometimes he answers, and at other 

 times not ; in either case he remains with his eyes cast down. 

 Frequently he will not utter a word till the repast is finished 

 and the kava too. When he speaks he generally begin s in a 

 low and very altered tone of voice, which gradually rises to 

 nearly its natural pitch, though sometimes a little above it. 

 All that he says is supposed to be the declaration of the god, 

 and he accordingly speaks in the first person, as if he were the 

 god. All this is done generally without any apparent inward 

 emotion or outward agitation ; but, on some occasions, his 

 countenance becomes fierce, and as it were inflamed, and his 

 whole frame agitated with inward feeling ; he is seized with an 



