663 



The Marivana de'ue reva, or charm, for causing the arm' 

 shells to be well sold, has been mentioned in sec. 4 of the pre^ 

 ceding chapter (see pi. xxxviii., figs. 1 and 2). 



There is a magical ceremony performed in connection with 

 the big nets (Urtit gaiima) (comp. sec. 3, chap. iv.). A 

 number of people go to some place on the barrier reef — usually 

 to the part called Arie'u (north-western end of island). Two 

 men hold a pole (made of the Ana tree), round which one end 

 of the Gauma is tied. A third man comes and, strikes the Ana 

 with another stick (LaunaJ, and says : — 



Or the vavid'i hagid'i 



Fish cause to come here 



gaumctra guguovoi'a tsdde 

 the net we get down 



Boi do tseiba orebe mini gahid'i 



Spirit not comes fish give here 



Oif.be vamai bagiai 



Fish cause to come here 



A' a' ma vatora ode 

 Water is taken 



Mari dadamand'i vatsena 6de 

 Village inmates are glad 



Eu vagogo ode. 



The firewood is cut 



This translation (which I obtained through Motu) may be- 

 rendered in a free version : — 



''O spirit, cause the fish to come ! The net has been sunk ; 

 (angry) spirit keep away ; let fish come to us ; the water is 

 ready (for boiling) and so is the firewood ; the villagers are 

 glad (hoping to get a good catch)." 



Here again the natives were emphatic that this incanta-- 

 tion is directed towards a spirit in order to appease the angry 

 spirit and to make him favourable. 



This charm is connected with divination. After the 

 incantation has been uttered, they watch the Ana pole, which 

 supports the net and is held by two men. If it moves the 

 spirits are well disposed. If the Ana does not stir the fishing 

 is not undertaken, and the men return to the village. This 

 custom is known in the Bonahona and Sud'u villages. 



The magical practices, made in preparation for a feast, 

 and described in the next section, also belong to the same class; 

 of magic as the spells just mentioned. 



