138 S AMO AN GROUP. 



obtain as much information as possible in relation to the pristine 

 manners of this people. 



As respects their ancient religion, we have obtained the following 

 particulars of the heathens. They acknowledge one great god, 

 whom they call Tagaloa-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, notwithstanding 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, notwithstanding 

 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, " Thanks 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 likewise Mesua, 

 Faana, Tinitini, Lamamau, who are gods of lightning, rain, whirl- 

 winds, &c. These gods are said to reside on an island to the west- 

 ward, from which quarter their bad weather usually comes. 



They had, likewise, many inferior gods, who watched on particular 



