THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 69 



repented, whereupon he was forgiven, warned of the flood to 

 come, told to take his wife and child and go to a small island 

 east of Raiatea Toamarama. He did so, and some say he 

 also took a friend, a dog, a pig, a pair of fowls, the only 

 domesticated animals known on the island. They were 

 saved and all else were destroyed, after which they returned 

 to the main land. They refer to coral, shells; and the like, 

 near the tops of the highest mountains as proof of it. They 

 give no account of rain, or that the windows of heaven were 

 opened, although they were frequently asked about this.* 



At the Sandwich Islands some say that rain fell until all 

 the land was covered except the top of Mauua Kea : some of 

 the people then placed themselves in a vessel, the length, 

 breadth, and height of which were equal. It was filled with 

 men, animals, and food, and at last rested on Manna Kea.f 



(b) What man oufjlit to do to these Super'wi' Spirits. 



(1) Thanksgiving. — As a recipient of favours he ought to be 

 grateful. Tlie people of the Friendly Islands had two great 

 festivals, one to ask the protection of Footla-faihu over their 

 newly planted fruits, and tlie other at the close of harvest, 

 which was a feast of gratitude. 



Among the Tahitians the first fish taken were conveyed to 

 the altar. The first fruits of orchards and gardens were also 

 offered. Their rites and worship were in many respects 

 singular, and in none more so than in the ripening of the 

 year, Avhich. was regarded as a kind of annual acknowledg- 

 ment to the gods.| The Sandwich Islanders also offered 

 their first fruits to their gods. § 



(2) Prayer. — Man as a weak being ought to ask assistance 

 of the more powerful beings. — The people of Celebes had 

 devotions, though no temples. || As just stated in regard to 

 the Friendly Islands, one of their great festivals was to ask 

 the protection of their deity over their newly planted fruits. 



The priests of the Tahitians addressed a prayer to their 

 principal deities. They were sometimes short but often 

 very long containing many repetitions, as if they thought 



* Polynesian Researches, chap. 15. 



t Hopkius' Ha^vaiian Islands, chap. 5. Jarves' Sandwich Islands. 



I Polynesian Researches, pp. 269, 270. 



§ Jarves' Sandwich Islanas, p. 19. 



j| Malte Brun's Geog., vol. ii, p. 342. 



