88 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF 



with the sprout or top of a young cocoa-nut tree. The leaves of this 

 are doubled in after a particular fashion, and according as the folds 

 coincide or not it is deemed a good or a bad omen. When these folds 

 do not coincide, they believe that one of their gods is probably offended, 

 and proceed to find out whether he be so or not, by taking a cocoa-nut 

 that is kept for the purpose, which they spin like a top before the sacred 

 stone or altar: if it falls with the upper end towards the stone, it is a 

 favourable omen; if otherwise, the god is angry, and must be appeased 

 by offerings and prayers. 



At times they pretend to receive an intimation that their ancestors 

 are displeased, in which case their skulls are taken down and propi- 

 tiated by offerings. 



They believe also in a species of cursing, called wainak, which con- 

 sists in invoking or praying to Death, in order to procure illness or the 

 displeasure of the gods on any one. 



Shooting stars are deemed ominous of death to some member of 

 the family, which may occupy the part of the council-house nearest 

 the point of the heavens from which it took its flight. If accom- 

 panied by a train, it foretells the death of a female; if otherwise, that 

 of a male. 



Some of the chiefs are believed to hold communication with spirits, 

 and to be able at times to foretell future events : they usually exer- 

 cise this pretended power at night ; and when a number of people are 

 sleeping in the mariapa, they are awakened by unnatural sounds, 

 proceeding from the chief, which are considered as the words of the 

 god, who speaks by him to announce the arrival of ships, the approach 

 of war, and other great events. When these predictions do not come 

 to pass, they always impute the failure to the intervention of some 

 other spirit. 



They believe in an existence after death, and that on the death of a 

 person,, his spirit ascends into the air, where it is carried about by the 

 winds, wherever they may chance to blow, until it finally reaches the 

 Kainakaki elysium. Only those who are tattooed can expect to reach 

 it, and these are generally persons of rank ; all others are intercepted 

 on their way, and doomed by a large giantess, called Baine. If those 

 who die are old and feeble, their spirits are conducted to the Kainakaki 

 by the shades of those who have died before them. The spirits of 

 children are carried to the realms of bliss by their female relatives, 

 and are nursed and taken care of until they are able to provide for 

 themselves. 



The Kainakaki is supposed to be situated in the island of Tavaira, 

 or Gilbert's Island. On this island there are several curious mounds, 



