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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.—I1MMOR- 
TALITY OF THE SOUL.—CONCEPTION OF FUTURE ABODE.—PROPS OF 
SUPERSTITION. 
TuE supreme god in Fijiis Degei (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 swayis 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 
‘You are clever fellows !—men of genius!’ etc. As no 
