SAMOAN GROUP. 131 



which will in a few years be either entirely lost, or so modified by the 

 spread of the gospel as to change their character entirely. The 

 rapidity with which this change is going on, rendered it desirable to 

 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 Tangaloa-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 V 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 V 9 " 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 over particular 



