The Night of Heathenism. 
211 
ing his vengeance on an enemy, a Fijian would wait 
patiently for months and years, placing meanwhile a stick 
or stone in such a position that by constantly seeing it he 
would be reminded of his intention. Sometimes they would 
suspend the dress or weapons of the murdered friend in 
their huts until the deed was requited, or would go about 
under a vow of silence till their end was gained ; and when 
vengeance could not be inflicted in any other way, recourse 
was had to witchcraft. All Fijians believed in the " black 
art," and supported it as far as possible, by paying great 
reverence to its professors, and making use of their enchant- 
ments against their enemies. A chiefs anger was never 
satisfied till he had killed his foe, after which he pulled out 
the tongue, liver, and heart, and devoured them, raw and 
bleeding. When a victim destined to be thus slain, has 
died ere the avenging blow could fall, the dead body has 
frequently been dug up after several days' burial, and the 
putrid carcase has been boiled and eaten in the form of a 
pudding. In the case of murder, the first victim was not 
the only one, for as soon as the husband's death became 
known, his wives and mother were killed too, in order to 
accompany him to the spirit-land. Fathers were buried 
alive by their sons, when old and sick, and children were 
ruthlessly strangled, on the smallest provocation. Nothing 
in all Fiji was held so cheap as human life. 
The domestic habits of the people were in accordance 
with their heathen principles, and savage ideas. Whenever 
affection was entertained between members of the same 
family, it was always concealed or restrained in its expres- 
sion. Brothers and sisters, fathers and sons-in-law, mothers 
and daughters-in-law, and first cousins, were forbidden to 
speak to each other, or to eat from the same dish. Hus- 
bands and wives were also forbidden to eat from the same 
