578 
PROCEEDINGS OP SECTION E. 
Devil Worship. — The Rotumans were devil worshippers, and had 
their priests ( apeoiitu ) and temples ( rimonu ). These priests were con- 
sulted by the people in times of sickness, Avar, &e. The people always 
took presents of food, pigs, or mats. After presenting their gifts they 
remained in the temple and watched the priest, who presently began 
to shake and tremble. He is then supposed to be under the influence 
of the devil. The visitors were filled with fear, and waited anxiously 
to hear what the devil had to say through the mouth of the priest. 
The priest generally said something to please the visitors, after which 
the priest and visitors drank kava together, and then separated. 
Climate. — The climate of Rotuma is very sickly. No European can 
remain there long without contracting diseases hard to be shaken off. It 
is difficult to account for the sickly character of the island; but some 
attribute it to the absence of good water, to the drinking of so mauy 
cocoanuts, and the oozing of water from the land into the sea at low 
water. There ai*e no mangrove swamps in Rotuma. Several diseases 
are peculiar to the island, but the scourge of the place is elephantiasis 
and terrible ulcerous sores, which not only eat the flesh but the bone. 
Large numbers of the natives — men and women — are suffering from 
elephantiasis, and some cases are pitiable in the extreme. It attacks 
the arms, legs, heart, and generative organs. The last form of the 
disease is the worst. Some white men have been attacked by 
elephantiasis, but by leaving immediately for a cold climate have 
recovered ; others who have remained on the island have succumbed to 
the complaint. 
Forecast. — What will be the future of Rotuma and the 
Rotumaus? This is an interesting question. Rotuma being part of 
the British Empire will probably remain so ; but being small, without 
ports, without mineral wealth, and lying adjacent to Fiji, it is 
unlikely to be of much importance to the Empire. If, however, it had 
not been annexed by Great Britain, it would in all probability have 
been annexed by France. What will be the future of the Rotuman 
race ? Will they disappear, as so many other races have done? We 
very much fear so. From the great number of graveyards on the 
island, and also from the vast number of stone foundations on which 
houses were formerly built, it is very evident that Rotuma was once 
densely populated. The present population is probably not one-third 
of what it ouce was. From my own observation, during the ten years 
from 1881 to 1891, the population decreased 200. This shrinkage is 
still going on, and is likely to continue for the following reasons 
among others : — 
1. The majority of the young men leave the island. 
2. The marriage relationship seems to be very weak. A large 
number of young married couples are living apart. 
3. Deaths exceed births. Many use means to prevent child- 
bearing. . . 
4*. European diseases have been introduced which the natives do 
not understand ; there being no resident doctor the people quickly 
succumb. . 
5. The natives wear clothing of European manufacture, but have 
no judgment as to how it should he worn. In the intense heat of the 
day they wear ample clothing ; in the cool of the evening they are 
