338 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES, 
been taken to tlie temple, and were filled with the 
atua, that they became so powerful. The images 
©f aito-wood were only exceeded in durability by 
those of stone. Some of the latter were calcarious 
or silicious, but the greater part were rude, un¬ 
carved, angular columns of basalt, various in size, 
and destitute of carving or polish ; they were 
clothed or ornamented with native cloth. 
The sacred flag was also used in processions, 
and regarded as an emblem of their deities. 
Throughout Polynesia, the ordinary medium of 
communicating or extending supernatural powers, 
was the red feather of a small bird found in many 
of the islands, and the beautiful long tail-feathers 
of the tropic, or man-of-war bird. For these 
feathers the gods were supposed to have a strong 
predilection ; they were the most valuable offerings 
that could be presented; to them the power or 
influence of the god was imparted, and through 
them transferred to the objects to which they 
might be attached. Among the numerous cere¬ 
monies observed, the paeatua was conspicuous. 
On these occasions, the gods were all brought 
out of the temple, the sacred coverings removed, 
scented oils were applied to the images, and 
they were exposed to the sun. At these sea¬ 
sons, the parties who wished their emblems 
of deity to be impregnated with the essence of 
the gods, repaired to the ceremony with a number 
of red feathers, which they delivered to the offi¬ 
ciating priest. 
The wooden idols being generally hollow, the 
feathers were deposited in the inside of the image, 
which was filled with them. Many idols, how¬ 
ever, were solid pieces of wood, bound or covered 
with finely-braided fibres of the cocoa-nut husk; 
