CUSTOMS OF THE FEEJEE GROUP. 83 



In preparing for war, and during its continuance, they abstain from 

 the company of women; and there were instances related to me, where 

 this abstinence had continued for several years. 



When a body made up of several tribes has approached near the 

 enemy, the vunivalu, or general, makes a speech to each separate 

 tribe. In this he does all in his power by praises, taunts, or exhorta- 

 tions, as he thinks best suited to the purpose, to excite them to deeds 

 of bravery. To one he will talk in the following manner : 



" You say you are a brave people. You have made me great 

 promises, now we will see how you will keep them. To me you look 

 more like slaves than fighting men." 



Or thus : " Here are these strangers come to fight with us. Let us 

 see who are the best men." 



To another tribe he will say : " Where do you come from ?" Some 

 one of the tribe starts up, and striking the ground with his club, 

 replies by naming its place of residence. The vunivalu then con- 

 tinues, " Ah ! I have heard of you ; you boast yourselves to be brave 

 men ; we shall see what you are ; I doubt whether you will do much. 

 You seem to be more like men fit to plant and dig yams than to 

 fight." 



After he has thus gone through his forces, he cries out: " Attend !" 

 On this the whole clap their hands. He then tells them to prepare 

 for battle, to which they answer, " Mana ndina," (it is true.) 



In some parts of the group the forces are marshalled in bands, each 

 of which has a banner or flag, under which it fights. The staff of these 

 flags (druatina) is about twenty feet in length, and the flags them- 

 selves, which are of corresponding dimensions, are made of tapa. As 

 an instance, the forces of Rewa are arranged in four bands, viz. : 



1. The Valevelu, or king's own people, who are highest in rank, 

 and held in the greatest estimation. 



2. The Niaku ne tumbua, the people of the vunivalu or fighting 

 chief. 



3. The Kai Rewa, or landholders of Rewa. 



4. The Kai Ratu, which is composed of the offspring of chiefs by 

 common women. 



The flags are distinguished from each other by markings : that of 

 the Valevelu has four or five vertical black stripes, about a foot wide, 

 with equal spaces of white left between them ; the rest of the flag is 

 white. 



