100 UPOLU- MANONO — SAVAII. 



dilemma. Unfortunately for him, however, after another month of 

 anxious suspense, the old man's pigs and taro fell short, notwithstand- 

 ing the chief's dependants had for a long time been restricted from 

 using them. All of them were in fact much reduced by their com- 

 pulsory fast, with the exception of Joe, whose rotundity 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 immediately 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 exertions, and prayed hastily to all the 

 saints of his calendar. He, however, knew full well 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 impo- 

 sitions boldly, and is the worst antagonist the missionaries have to deal 

 with. 



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

 ing 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 sus- 

 pended 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 oppor- 

 tunity 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 



