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CHAPTER XIX. 



FIJIAN" RELIGION. DEGEI, THE SUPREME GOD. INFERIOR DEITIES. WOR- 

 SHIP OF ANCESTORS. IDOLIZED OBJECTS. TEMPLES. CREATION AND 



ULTIMATE DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD. A GREAT FLOOD. IMMOR- 

 TALITY OF THE SOUL. CONCEPTION OF FUTURE ABODE. PROPS OF 

 SUPERSTITION. 



THE supreme god in FijiisDegei (pronounced Ndengei), 

 known in the other groups of Polynesia as Tanga-roa, 

 or Taa-roa ; Tanga being his proper name, " roa " an ad- 

 jective, signifying ' the far removed,' perhaps also ' the 

 most high.' To him is attributed the creation and go- 

 vernment of the world ; and no images of him are made, 

 nor of any of the minor gods, collectively termed 

 " Kalou." His sway is universally acknowledged in 

 Fiji, and no attempts are ever made to elevate any 

 local gods above him. For this reason I think that in 

 teaching our Christian religion it would have been ad- 

 visable to select the name of Degei for the Supreme 

 Being rather than that of " Kalou," which seems to be 

 used not only collectively for all gods, but also for any- 

 thing superlative, good or bad. When the natives saw 

 us doing anything inspiring them with admiration or 

 surprise, they would say, " Ah, you are Kalous," which, 

 of course, could not be translated, ' You are gods,' but 

 4 You are clever fellows ! men of genius !' etc. As no 



