UPOLU — MANONO — SAVAII. 105 



of form seemed to indicate that he at least ran no risk of starvation. 

 Whether it were owing to the suspicions which his jolly appearance 

 excited, or that he began to entertain doubts of Joe's supernatural 

 powers, is not known ; but one day old Lelomiava determined to 

 satisfy himself of the progress making in the restoration of his son. 

 With this design he entered the house, and was shocked with the 

 sight of his son's body in a state of loathsome putridity. He imme- 

 diately summoned Joe, and informed him that it was time that the 

 promised miracle should be accomplished, adding, that it must be 

 done by the morrow's dawn. Joe immediately redoubled his exer- 

 tions, and prayed hastily to all the saints of his calendar. He, 

 however, knew full Avell what would be his fate if he remained to 

 encounter on the morrow the anger of the savage chief. He therefore 

 effected his escape during the night, and made his way to his native 

 island. There he remained for some time incog., but now ventures 

 to appear openly, practising his impositions boldly, and is the worst 

 antagonist the missionaries have to deal with. 



This story was related by the old chief himself, who, instead of 

 finding his son restored to life, was compelled to bury his body, 

 which he did, with the exception of the head. This he put in a box, 

 and suspended beneath the peak of the roof of his house, where it 

 remains, a witness of his credulity and of the gross imposition that 

 was practised upon him. 



While the party remained at Siusinga, a sick native was brought 

 from the coast to a neighbouring house, and their host, the Gimblet 

 priest, was called upon to pray for him. This afforded them an 

 opportunity that might not otherwise have occurred, of learning some 

 facts in relation to the ceremonies of this sect. 



On this occasion, the priest approached the house where the sick 

 man lay, and when upon the stone platform in front of it, he drew 

 forth a book from the folds of tapa in which it had been carefully 

 enveloped. He then called upon Jehovah, returning thanks for the 

 many blessings which had been conferred on his people, and asked for 

 a continuance of the same, invoking the name of Jesus. He ended 

 by inquiring the Divine pleasure concerning the sick man, and 

 begging mercy for him. 



The nature of the book could not be distinctly seen, as it was again 

 carefully enclosed in the tapa as soon as the ceremony was over ; but 

 so far as it was visible, it bore an unquestionable resemblance to a 

 blank note-book ! 



vol. ii. 27 



