8G MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF 



subjection, are considered as personal property, and cannot marry with- 

 out the consent of their masters. 



The religious belief is of the simplest kind. The name of their 

 principal divinity is Wanigain, or Tabu-eriki. He is their most popu- 

 lar god, and considered by some the greatest. About two-thirds of 

 the people worship him as their tutelar divinity. The rest do not 

 acknowledge him, but have other deities; and some worship the souls 

 of their departed ancestors, or certain birds, fish, and animals. A fe- 

 male deity is the object of adoration to very many. She is called 

 Itivini, is reputed to be of a cruel disposition, and all the little children 

 who die are supposed to be killed and eaten by her. The natives 

 always refuse to eat the animals, fish, &c, worshipped by them, but 

 will readily catch them, that others may partake of the food. 



Tabu-eriki's image has been before described, and a wood-cut repre- 

 senting it will be found at the end of the chapter. The coral stone 

 which represents him is always tied round with cocoanut-leaves, and 

 these are changed once a month, to keep them constantly green. The 

 worship paid to this god consists in repeating prayers before this stone, 

 and depositing beside it a portion of the food prepared for their own 

 use. This is done not only at the time of festivals, but at their daily 

 meals, and also whenever they desire to propitiate his favour; the first 

 fruits of the season are also offered to this god. Every family of any 

 distinction has one of these stones, which is considered by many of 

 them rather in the light of an altar than of an idol. 



The female deity, Itivini, is worshipped in a small circle, formed by 

 a number of coral stones, three feet in diameter, which is covered with 

 white gravel; in the centre a cocoa-nut is set up. At the time prayers 

 are offered to her, this nut is bound with a wreath of leaves, and 

 anointed with cocoanut-oil. 



There is another female deity, called Itituapea, who is worshipped 

 at a flat coral stone situated on the reef between the islets of Kuria 

 and Oneoka ; the two are known on the chart by the name of Kuria. 

 Any one passing it, either on foot or in canoes, never fails to invoke 

 her favour, and if they have any food, leave a part of it on the stone, 

 which is never taken away. 



The skulls of ancestors are carefully preserved by their family, and 

 held in great reverence. When they desire to invoke their spirits, 

 these skulls are taken down, wreathed with leaves, laid on a new mat, 

 anointed with oil, and presented with food. Fish and animals that are 

 held sacred are only addressed with prayers by their worshippers. 



According to Wood, the names of Tabu-eriki, Itivini, and Itituapea 

 are unknown at Makin, and the only spirits the natives of that island 



