84 CUSTOMS OF THE FEEJEE GROUP. 
lity, on condition of receiving the choicest parts of all kinds of food, 
as the heads of the turtle and pig,—which are still held sacred. Under 
this agreement he determined to proceed to Verata, where he has 
resided ever since, and by him Verata is believed to have been 
rendered impregnable. , 
Next in rank, in their mythology, stand two sons of Ndengei, 
Tokairambe and Tui Lakemba.* These act as mediators between 
their father and inferior spirits. They are said to be stationed, in the 
form of men, at the door of their father’s cabin, where they receive and 
transmit to him the prayers and supplications of departed souls. 
The grandchildren of Ndengei are third in rank. They are innu- - 
merable, and each has a peculiar duty to perform, of which ite most 
~ usual is that of presiding over islands and districts. 
A fourth class is supposed to be made up of more distant relatives 
of Ndengei. These preside over separate tribes, by whose priests they 
are consulted. They have no jurisdiction beyond their own tribe, and 
possess no power but what is deputed to them by superior deities. 
In addition to these benignant beings, they believe in malicious and 
mischievous gods.. These reside in their Hades, which they call 
Mbulu (underneath the world). There reigns a cruel tyrant, with grim 
aspect, whom they name Lothia.. Samuialo (destroyer of souls) is his 
colleague, and sits on the brink of a_huge fiery cavern, into which he 
precipitates departed spirits. 
These notions, although the most prevalent, are not universal. 
Thus: the god of Muthuata is called Radinadina. He is considered 
as the son of Ndengei. Here also Rokora, the god of carpenters, is 
held in honour; and they worship also Rokavona, the god of fishermen. 
The people of Lakemba believe that departed souls proceed to Na- 
mukaliwu, a place in the vicinity of the sea. Here they for a time 
exercise the same employments as when in this life, after which they 
die again, and go to Mbulu, where they are met by Samuialo. This 
deity is empowered to seize and hurl into the fiery gulf all those whom 
he dislikes. On Kantavu they admit of no god appointed to receive 
departed souls, but suppose that these go down into the sea, where 
they are examined by the great spirit, who retains those he likes, and 
sends back the others to their native island, to dwell among their 
friends. Another belief is, that the departed spirit goes before the god 
Taseta, who, as it approaches, darts a spear at it. If the spirit exhibits 
any signs of fear, it incurs the displeasure of the god, but if it advances 
with courage, it is received with favour. 
* Some say he has but one son, called Mautu (the bread-fruit). 
