CUSTOMS OF THE FEEJEE GROUP. 



91 



The deities whom we have named are served by priests, called 

 ambati, who are worshipped in buildings denominated mbure, or 

 spirit-houses. Of such buildings each town has at least one, and often 

 several, which serve also for entertaining strangers, as well as for 

 holding councils and other public meetings. In these mbures, images 

 are found; but these, although much esteemed as ornaments, and 

 held sacred, are not worshipped as idols. They are only produced on 

 great occasions, such as festivals, &c. 



The ambati, or priests, have great influence over the people, who 

 consult them on all occasions, but are generally found acting in 

 concert with the chiefs, thus forming a union of power which rules 

 the islands. Each chief has his ambati, who attends him wherever 

 he goes. The people are grossly superstitious, and there are few of 

 their occupations in which the ambati is not more or less concerned. 

 He is held sacred within his own district, being considered as the 

 representative of the kalou, or spirit. Mr. Hunt informed me that the 

 natives seldom separate the idea of the god from that of his priest, 

 who is viewed with almost divine reverence. My own observations, 

 however, led to the conclusion, that it is more especially the case at 

 Somu-somu, where Mr. Hunt resides, and where the natives are 

 more savage, if possible, in their customs, than those of the other 

 islands. If intercourse with white men has produced no other effect, 



