92 CUSTOMS OF THE FEEJEE GROUP. 



it has lessened their reverence for the priesthood ; for, wherever they 

 have foreign visiters, there may be seen a marked change in this 

 respect. 



The office of ambati is usually hereditary, but in some cases may 

 be considered as self-chosen. Thus, when a priest dies without male 

 heirs, some one, who is ambitious to succeed him, and desirous of 

 leading an idle life, will strive for the succession. To accomplish 

 this end, he will cunningly assume a mysterious air, speaking inco- 

 herently, and pretending that coming events have been foretold him 

 by the kalou, whom he claims to have seen and talked with. If he 

 should have made a prediction in relation to a subject in which the 

 people take an anxious interest, and with which the event happens 

 to correspond, the belief that his pretensions are well founded is 

 adopted. Before he is acknowledged as ambati, he, however, is made 

 to undergo a further trial, and is required to show publicly that the 

 kalou is entering into him. The proof of this is considered to lie in 

 certain shiverings, which appear to be involuntary, and in the per- 

 formance of which none but an expert juggler could succeed. 



I had an opportunity, while at Levuka, of seeing a performance of 

 this description. Whippy gave me notice of it, having ascertained 

 that the offering which precedes the consultation, was in preparation. 

 This offering consisted of a hog, a basket of yams, and a quantity of 

 bananas. In this case the ambati had received notice that he was to 

 be consulted, and was attached to the person of Seru, (Tanoa's son,) 

 for whose purposes the prophetic intervention was needed. 



On such occasions the chiefs dress in the morning in their gala 

 habits, and proceed with much ceremony to the mbure, where the 

 priest is. On some occasions previous notice is given him ; at other 

 times he has no warning of their coming, until he receives the 

 offering. 



The amount of this offering depends upon the inclination of the 

 party who makes it. The chiefs and people seat themselves promiscu- 

 ously in a semicircle, the open side of which is occupied by the person 

 who prepares the ava. This mode of sitting is intended as an act 

 of humiliation on the part of the chiefs, which is considered as 

 acceptable to the gods. When all is prepared, the principal chief, if 

 the occasion be a great one, presents a whale's tooth. The priest 

 receives this in his hands, and contemplates it steadily, with down- 

 cast eyes, remaining perfectly quiet for some time. In a few minutes 

 distortions begin to be visible in his face, indicating, as they suppose, 



