154 A MISSION TO VITI. 



up supplications to heaven for the conversion of the be- 

 nighted beings crowding around us. They were all at- 

 tention, and in their minds evidently compared the con- 

 vulsive ravings of their own priests with the dignified 

 bearing of the Christian missionary. 



The next morning I paid a visit to the heathen temple 

 at Nagadi. Unlike other temples on the coast, which 

 are generally erected on terraced mounds, and quite free 

 from any enclosure, this was on level ground, and sur- 

 rounded by a high bamboo fence ; some of the sticks 

 used being the young shoots entire, with unexpanded 

 leaves, and looking like so many fishing-rods. The 

 temple itself was a mere hut, scarcely twenty-five feet 

 long and fifteen wide. In one corner there was an enclo- 

 sure of reeds, where the spirit was supposed to dwell or 

 descend. Kava-roots and leaves, clubs, spears, and little 

 twigs of Waltlieria Americana, suspended from various 

 parts of the roof, had been presented as offerings. In 

 some old temples the various offerings have been taste- 

 fully arranged, making the interior of the building look 

 like a great armoury. There were no images of any 

 kind, indeed, I never saw idols of any sort throughout 

 Fiji. The priest and his family also lived in this place, 

 and readily exhibited all the curiosities accumulated. 

 Amongst the things attracting my attention was a lot of 

 bamboo-canes tied in a bundle, which, on being struck on 

 the ground with the opening downwards, produced a loud 

 and hollow sound. Two single bamboos of unequal length 

 are beaten contemporaneously with this large bundle 

 in religious ceremonies. I gave the young priest a jew's- 

 harp, with which he expressed himself highly pleased. 



