392 A MISSION TO VITI. 



tion of these altars is identical with that observed by 

 Turner in Tanna, and only differs in its inferior finish 

 from the altars formerly erected in Tahiti and the ad- 

 jacent islands. The offerings, consisting of the choicest 

 articles of food, are left exposed to wind and weather, 

 and firmly believed by the mass of Fijians to be con- 

 sumed by the spirits of departed friends and relations ; 

 but, if not eaten by animals, they are often stolen by 

 the more enlightened class of their countrymen, and 

 even some of the foreigners do not disdain occasionally 

 to help themselves freely to them. However, it is not 

 only on tombs or on altars that offerings are made ; 

 often, when the natives eat or drink anything, they 

 throw portions of it away, stating them to be for their 

 departed ancestors. I remember ordering a young chief 

 to empty a bowl containing kava, which he did, mutter- 

 ing to himself, " There, father, is some kava for you. 

 Protect me from illness or breaking any of my limbs 

 whilst in the mountains." 



Besides their regular gods and deified spirits, the Fi- 

 jians have idolized objects, such as sacred stones, trees, 

 and groves, of which I have already spoken (p. 87) ; and 

 in addition to these v certain birds, fishes, and some men, 

 are supposed to have deities closely connected with or 

 residing in them. He who worships the god inhabiting 

 a certain fish or bird, must of course refrain from harm- 

 ing or eating them. 



All Fijian temples at least those about the coast 

 have a pyramidal form, and are often erected on ter- 

 raced mounds, in this respect reminding us of the an- 

 cient Central American structures We meet the same 



