482 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES, 
quantity of cloth^. mats^ &c. were given to the priests, 
that they might persevere in their labours. This was 
succeeded by a third, of the same kind, called the haameii^ 
in which, in addition to the other kinds of property, a 
number of fine pigs, each distinguished by a distinct 
name, were given to the priests, that they might redouble 
their vigilance to induce their own gods to keep with 
them, and the gods of their enemies to forsake those 
enemies, and, by means of the weapons of those who now 
sought their favour, to exert their power against the 
parties they had formerly aided. 
The utoa fareia Manaha —the building of the house of 
Manaha—^wasthe most singular ceremony. It was designed 
for the abode of the gods and spirits, who they supposed 
fought with them, and whom they desired to have near at 
hand. In order to propitiate the gods, a human sacrifice 
was offered. The work was begun, and the house must 
be finished in one day, on which day every individual 
must abstain from all kinds of food. Into this house the 
toon, or images of the spirits, were sometimes taken; but 
although the priest always offered his prayer here, the 
gods were usually left in their sacred temples, and only 
a feather was taken from their images, which they sup¬ 
posed to be endowed with all their power 
The last religious ceremony, prior to the commence¬ 
ment of conflict, was the haumanava. Slight temples 
were erected in the sacred canoes of Oro, and the other 
gods. In these, the red feathers taken from the idols 
were deposited; they were called manutuhi no Tane, &c. 
or single bird of Tane; all the gods were supposed to 
be present, having been brought from their elysian 
abodes by the prayers of the priests. There was a kind 
of intermediate race of beings, between men and gods. 
