Page:Littell's Living Age - Volume 133.djvu/454

448 each supposed, by a stretch of imagination, to represent a man squatting down (tiki-tiki tangata). Some patterns are of recent introduction, and being mere imitations of European designs are destitute of the significations which invariably attached to ancient Polynesian carving. The large square holes are known as "eel-borings" (ai tuna) the lateral openings are naturally enough called "clefts" (kavava). To carve was the employment of sacred men. The national gods of Mangaia, with one exception, were carved in ironwood by one man, Rori, who was believed to have been specially assisted by the gods for the purpose. The idols were called "carvings" (tiki in the Hervey group, tiiin the Tahitan and Society groups). The stone adzes were secured to their wooden hafts by means of fine cinet, itself esteemed divine. It was fabled that the peculiar way in which the natives of Mangaia fasten their axes was originally taught them by the gods. A famous god, named Tanemataariki, i.e., Tane-of-royal-face, was considered to be enshrined in a sacred triple axe, which symbolized the three priestly families on the island, without whose aid the gods could not be acceptably worshipped. Tane-of-royal-face was one of the very few much-respected gods not surrendered to the missionaries, but hidden in caves. All trace of this interesting relic of heathen antiquity is now lost. The shape of a god adze differed at the back from those used by artisans in being rounded underneath. These artisans were priests; to use an adze was to be a man of consequence, the skill necessary in using it being invariably referred back to the gods as its source. That the Rev. J. Williams should be able to fell a tree and build a vessel as well as to preach and teach was in perfect harmony with their traditional ideas of a priest-chief. The improved art of carving and plaiting cinet, etc., was long ago introduced from Tahiti by a worshipper of Tane. During these employments songs were chanted in a soft low tone to the gods to aid their work. Some of these stone adzes were intended for despatching their foes. Stone adzes are invariably used laterally, not perpendicularly as with our steel ones. Beds of stone adzes are occasionally discovered. They generally consist of about a dozen adzes, large and small, arranged in a circle, the points being towards the centre. This "treasure-trove" would have been the property of some family exterminated in war. The knowledge of the localities where to find them was of course carefully handed down from one generation to another until the last of the tribe was gone.

 

  idea has recently occurred to some French gentlemen of starting a national subscription for the repurchase from Germany of that part of Lorraine which was ceded by the treaty of 1871; and it has already become necessary to warn the public against certain persons, who have constituted themselves collectors, but do not deem it necessary to account for the funds entrusted to them. Meanwhile it has been suggested that before definitively organizing the grand Patriotic Association for the Recovery of Lorraine, it may be as well to ascertain if Germany is willing to sell the territory in question. Of course there is no lack of precedents. France herself sold Louisiana to the United States in 1803 for the modest sum of fifteen million dollars, while Russia sold Alaska in 1867 to the same power for seven million dollars. But European soil is not so readily sold, the latest transaction of this nature having been a very small one indeed. It will be remembered that the Prince of Monaco gave up the communes of Roquebrune and Mentone to France in consideration of the sum of four million francs. It is also within living memory, though the period seems far distant, that by the treaty of June 11, 1857, the late king of Prussia renounced his claims to the sovereignty of Neufchâtel, stipulating only for the title, and a pecuniary compensation, which was not paid, and the claim to which was ultimately waived. But the Prussia of to-day is not in the habit of concluding bargains unsatisfactory to itself; and even if the German emperor's government felt disposed to sell Lorraine, one may be sure that the price asked would be a far higher one than could be raised by voluntary contributions. The attempt to pay a portion of the French war indemnity in a similar manner, it will be remembered, proved a dismal failure. 