0 ^^ul , ^ S aU riliCl * , CUSTOMS OF THE FEE J EE GRnll'. 



Ftfjer ronrriagcs. 



2ll!» 



most shrewd and intelligent members of the com- 

 munity, ami the reasons for tliuir intimate union 

 with the chiefs arc obvious; without the infl itence 

 of the superstition of which they are the agents, tlio 

 chief would lie unable Bucceasmlly to rule; while 

 without support from thoanth -rity of the chief, tho 

 amhati could scarcely practise their mummeries 

 wi I limit detection. 



The priests, when their Mffviott are not wanted 

 hy ill'' chiefs, arc sometimes driven to straits for 

 fond. In such coses they have recourse to the 

 fears of the people, and among other modes of iuli- 

 iiiidiitjoii, threaten to oat thetn if their demand* are 

 tint complied with. To give force to the menace, 

 they pretend to Imve had communication with the. 

 god in dreams, and assemble the penple to hear the 

 message nf the deity. This message is always por- 

 tentous of evil; the simple natives are thus induced 

 to make propitiatory offerings, which the priest ap- 

 plies to his own use. 



The priest at Levuka pretends to receive oracles 

 from a miniature mbure,an engine of superstition, 

 which he keeps behind a semen in the spirit- 

 house. It is about four feet high; the base is 

 about fifteen inches square; it is hollow within, 

 ha* an ear on one side of it, and a mouth and nose 

 an the other. 



This oracle is covered with scarlet and white 

 seeds, about the size of a large pea, which are 

 stuck upon it in fantastic figures with gum. To 

 [he priest this is a labour-saving machine; for on 

 ordinary occasions, instead of going through tho 

 performance we have described, he merely whis- 

 pers in the ear of the model, and pretends to re- 

 ceive an answer by applying his own ear to its 

 month. 



The occasions on which tho priests are required 

 to shake, are usually of the following kinds : to im- 

 plure good crops of yams and tare; on going to 

 battle; for propitious voyages; for rain; for storms, 

 to drive boat* and ships ashore, in order that the 

 natives may seize the property they arc freighted 

 with; and for the destruction of their enemies, 



When the prayers offered are for a deliverance 

 from famine, the priest directs the people to return 

 to their houses, iu the name of Ndeiiget, who then 

 at his instance is expected to turn himself over, in 

 w Inch case an earthquake ensues, which is to be 

 followed by a season of fertility. 



When it is determined to offer a sacrifice, the 

 people an? assembled and addressed by n chief. 

 A time is then fixed for the ceremony, until which 

 time a taboo is bid upon pigs, turtles, A.e. < In the 

 appointed day, each man brings his quota of provi- 

 sions, and a whale's tooth if he have one. The 

 chief, accompanied by the others, approaches the 

 inbure, and w hile he offers up his prayers, the 

 people present their gifts. The latter then return 

 to their houses, and the offering is distributed by 

 the priest. 



When a chief wishes to supplicate a pod for the 

 recovery of a sick friend, the return of a canoe, or 

 any other desired object, he takes a rout of avaaud 

 a whale's tooth to the mbure, and offers them to 

 the priest. The latter takes the whale's tooth iu 

 In- hands, ami then goes through the operation of 

 shaking, A.C., as has already heen described. 



Besides the occasional consultation of the gods 

 through the anibali, there nre stated religious festi- 

 vals. One of these, which is stud to he only prac- 



tised iu districts subject to Tni Levuka, takes 

 place in i he month of Novetnlier, and lasts four 

 days. At ifci commencement an influential matnni- 

 vanua (landholder) proceeds just at sunset to the 

 outside of the koro, or town, where, in a loud voice, 

 he invokes the spirit of the skv, praying for good 

 crops and other blessings. Til is is followed hy a 

 general floating of sticks and drums, and Mowing of 

 concha, which lasts for half an hour. During the 

 four days, the men live in the mbure, when they 

 feast upon the balulo", a euriouB species uf salt- 

 water worm, which makes its appearance at this 

 season, for one day, w hile the women and hoys re- 

 main shut up in the houses. Nu labour is per- 

 mitted, no work carried on; and so strictly is this 

 rule observed, that not even a leaf is plucked; and 

 the offal is not removed from the houses. At day- 

 light on the expiration of the fourth night, the 

 whole town is in an uproar, and men and boys 

 scamper about, knocking with clubs and sticks at 

 the doOM of the houses, crying out, " Sinarilm." 

 This concludes the ceremony, and the usual routine 

 of affairs goes on thenceforth as usual. 



At Ambaii a grand festival takes place at the in- 

 gathering of the fruits. This is called Bataini 

 mhulu (the spirit below or in the earth). On this 

 occasion a great feast is held, and the king, chiefs, 

 and people walk in procession, with great pomp 

 and ceremony, to Viwa, wdiore they pay homage to 

 the spirit. I was unable to obtain further details 

 of this festival, but its object was explained to be a 

 n tuni of thanks fi>r the fruits of the earth. 



I be marriages of the Feejeeans ace sanctioned 

 by religious ceremonies, and, among the high chiefs, 

 nre attended with much form and j tirade. As at 

 nil other ceremonies, a va drinking forms an essential 

 part. The am bat i, or priest, takes a seat, having 

 the bridegroom on his right ami the bride on the 

 left baud. He then invokes the protection of the 

 god or spirit upon tho bride, after which he leads 

 her to the bridegroom, and joins their hands, with 

 injunctions to love, honour, and obey, to be faithful 

 and die with each other. 



During this ceremony, the girls are engaged in 

 chewing tho ava, on which the priest directs 

 the water to Ik? poured, and cries out, a Ai sevu." 

 Ho then calls upon all tho gods of the town or 

 island. He takes care to make no omission, Jest 

 the neglected deity should inflict injury ou the 

 couple be has united. Ho concludes the ceremony 

 by calling out u mami" (it is finished); to which 

 the people respond u ndina" (it is true). 



Fur the marriage of a woman, the consent of 

 her father, mother, and brother ia required, 

 and must be asked by the intended husband. 

 Even if the father and mother assent, the re- 

 fusal of the brother will prevent the marriage; 

 but, w ith his concurrence, it may take place, even 

 if both father and mother oppose. In asking a 

 woman iu marriage, rollti of tapa, whales' teeth, 

 provisions, Ace., are sometimes presented to the 

 parent!-. The acceptance of these signifies that 

 the suit is favourably received ; their rejection is a 

 refusal of the suit. 



If the proposals of the young man are received, 

 ho gives notice of it to his own relations, who take 



• The Ualoln U oblatrifrl ai Wnkalii, *rd I* enleu both 

 rookeJ ami ran. a* auit* ill* titncy, awl ttoin ii Nuvember 

 receive* ill name. 



P 



