POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
53 
first known in the islands. We never observed among 
them any traces of the Asiatic doctrine of the trans¬ 
migration of souls; although they believed that hogs had 
souls^ and that there was a distinct place^ called Ofetuna, 
whither they supposed the souls of the pigs repaired 
after their death. This idea some carried so far as 
to suppose^ that^ not only had animals souls, but to 
imagine that even flowers and plants were organized 
beings, also possessing souls. Another singular prac¬ 
tice in reference to their pigs, was that of giving them 
some distinct, though often arbitrary name; so that 
each pig had his own proper name, by which he was 
called, as well as the several members of the family. 
This difference, however, prevailed—a man frequently 
changed his name, but the name of the pig, once received, 
was usually retained until his death. 
The island of Raiatea has not only been distinguished 
among the surrounding cluster by its identity with 
the traditions of the past, but also by its being the 
source of predictions respecting the future. There 
are some which regarded the destiny of the people, 
but the most remarkable (because, according to the 
interpretation of the natives themselves, they have 
received a partial fulfilment) were those referring to 
the strange events that should occur. Among the 
native prophets of former times, there appear to have 
been several of the name of Maui, One of the most 
celebrated of this name resided at Raiatea, and on 
one occasion, when supposed to be under the inspira¬ 
tion of the god, he predicted that in future ages a 
vaa ama ore, literally an ^^outriggerless canoe,” would 
arrive in the islands from some foreign land. Ac¬ 
customed to attach that appendage to their single 
