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Native missionaries. 

 Population of the Samoan Group 



THE SAMOANS. 



Their ancient religion. 



been much aided by native assistants, who have 

 been both industrious and successful ; and among 

 them, those of Raratonga have the merit of having 

 led the way. They have acted under the direction 

 of Mr. Williams, and he was loud hi praise of their 

 exertions. I witnessed a most interesting meeting 

 of these native missionaries, for the purpose of 

 selecting nine from their number to accompany Mr. 

 Williams to the New Hebrides, which has per- 

 haps left a more deep impression on my mind from 

 the melancholy result of that attempted mission. 



Great anxiety was exhibited by the candidates; 

 and I have never seen a more proper state of 

 feeling, or listened to more correct sentiments, 

 than were expressed on this occasion. All ap- 

 peared devoted to their calling, and some of them 

 were quite eloquent. After the choice was an- 

 nounced, those upon whom it had fallen manifested 

 a cheerful but not unbecoming triumph, while the 

 rejected candidates were evidently grieved and 

 disappointed. The former were now invested with 

 new apparel, which, although no more than a 

 striped cotton sliirt *, gave them an air of conse- 

 quence among their brethren, which was amus- 

 ing to us who could draw comparisons between this 

 simple garment and prouder kinds of canonicals. 



Each of the resident missionaries now delivered 

 a long harangue, which was replied to by one of 

 the selected. The subjects of these discourses 

 were, on the one hand, advice in reference to the 

 duties about to be entered upon, and on the other 

 a recognition of the weight of the responsibility 

 incurred by the successful candidates. 



Most, if not all, of those selected for the new 

 mission were fine-looking men, and they were 

 chosen out of many applicants, for their steady 

 habits and strict moral conduct. The term of 

 their engagement on the new duty was three 

 years, after which they were to return to their 

 wives and children, who were not to accompany 

 them. 



The extent and influence of the labours of the 

 missionaries may be best understood by a compa- 

 rison between the whole population of the islands, 

 with the numbers of those who have embraced 

 Christianity, and attend the schools. 



The entire population of the group is estimated 

 at 56,600, of whom 14,850 have embraced Chris- 

 tianity, and 12,300 attend the schools. These 

 numbers are thus distributed : 



* This garment is the only remuneration that they receive 

 during each year from the missionary funds, and with it 

 they feel themselves well requited. 



I have to acknowledge the obligation under which I feel 

 myself to the missionaries, both individually and collectively, 

 for their kindness and attention. They did all in their 

 power to further the objects of the expedition, and to them 

 the squadron is mainly indebted for a great part of the 

 facilities we enjoyed of becoming acquainted with the man- 

 ners, habits, and customs of the Samoans. 



The whole number of foreign missionaries is 

 eleven, of whom one resides in Tutuila, six in 

 Upolu, three in Savaii, and one in Manono. 



The number of native teachers is one hundred 

 and thirty-eight, of whom five are in the Eastern 

 Group, thirty-one in Tutuila, fifty in Upolu, thirty- 

 six in Savaii, twelve in Manono, and four in Apo- 

 lima. 



Besides those counted as having actually em- 

 braced Christianity, it is said that two-thirds 

 of the whole population belong to the Christian 

 party. 



Of those who attend the schools, about ten 

 thousand read, and this newly-introduced habit 

 has of course made a very great change in the 

 habits of a majority of the people, but the num- 

 ber of heathen still left is sufficient to furnish 

 an idea of their original manners and customs, 

 which will in a few years be either entirely lost, or 

 so modified by the spread of the Gospel as to 

 change their character entirely. The rapidity 

 with which this change is going on, rendered it 

 desirable to obtain as much information as pos- 

 sible in relation to the pristine manners of this 

 people. 



As respects their ancient religion, we have ob- 

 tained the following particulars of the heathens. 

 They acknowledge one great god, whom they call 

 Tangaloa-lagi, but pay less worship to him than to 

 their war-gods, Tamafaiga, Sinleo, and Onafanua. 

 The first entices them to war, the second leads 

 them to it, and the third is a female goddess, who 

 encourages them to fight. 



Mafuie is their god of earthquakes, who was 

 deemed to possess great power, but has, according 

 to the Samoans, lost much of it. The way in which 

 they say this occurred is as follows. One Talago, 

 who possessed a charm capable of causing the earth 

 to divide, coming to a well-known spot, cried. 

 " Rock, divide ! I am Talago ; come to work !" 

 The earth separating at his command, he went 

 down to cultivate his taro-patch. His son, 'whose 

 name was Tiitii, became acquainted with the 

 charm, and watching his father, saw him descend, 

 and the earth close after him. At the same spot, 

 Tiitii said, " Rock, divide ! I am Talago ; come to 

 work !" The rock did not open, but on repeating 

 the words, and stamping his foot violently, the 

 earth separated, and he descended. Being a young 

 man, he made a great noise and bustle, notwith- 

 standing the advice of his father to be quiet, lest 

 Mafuie would hear him. The son then asked, 

 " Who is Mafuie, that I should be afraid of him ?" 

 Observing smoke at a distance, he inquired the 

 cause of it. Talago said, " It is Mafuie heating his 

 oven." Tiitii determined to go and see, notwith- 

 standing all the persuasions of his father, and met 

 Mafuie, who inquired who he was. " Are you a 

 planter of taro, a builder, or a twister of ropes ?" 

 " I am a twister of ropes," said Tiitii ; " give me 

 your arm, and I shall show you." So taking the 

 arm of Mafuie, he twisted it off in a moment. 

 Such a practical illustration of his powers soon 

 made Mafuie cry out, " Na fia ola, na fia ola !" I 

 desire to live, I desire to live ! Tiitii then took 

 pity upon him, and let him go. The natives, on 

 feeling an earthquake, exclaim, " Thank_s that 

 Mafuie has but one arm ! if he had two, he would 

 shake the earth to pieces." 



The god Salefu supports the earth. They have 



