Page:The Melanesians Studies in their Anthropology and Folklore.djvu/159

] will do the same. Three other sacrifices have much in common, and it depends on the person called in and consulted to determine which shall be used, (2) One is called 'unu qo, this is, burning a pig". This is offered in case of sickness, or when the failure of a garden crop shews that some lid a has been offended. A man known to be able to sacrifice is called in, and is ready to say that he knows what lio'a has caused the mischief. To him is sent a small pig, which is to take the place of the person whom the ghost lio’a is plaguing; and he takes it to the sacred place of that lid a somewhere under a tree, strangles it, and burns it whole in a fire kindled on the sacred stones or on the ground. He burns with it also grated yam and cocoa-nut mixed with fish; and then he stands and calls with a loud voice on the lio’a of the place, and with him he calls the names of all the ghosts of his family, his ancestors, and all who are deceased, down even to children and to women, and he names the giver of the pig for the food of these lio’a. A bit of the mixed food he leaves unburnt, wraps it in a dracæna leaf, and puts it by the relic case of the man to whose ghost he has been sacrificing. He is rewarded for his services by a present of food. (3) Another is called toto 'akalo, dealing the soul. It is performed in the house of the sacrificer, who cooks a little pig or a dog, and cites the names of the lio'a who are causing the trouble, calling upon them to toto, clear away the mischief, whether sickness, charm, or curse, and to make the afflicted party clean. Then he takes the pig out and throws it into the sea, or sets it on a stone in the sacred place of the lio'a he has addressed; 'he will not put it in a common place; it is holy, it has taken away the mischief, it has made clean.' (4) The third of these is called toto epa hanua, clearing well the place, and is performed in the house of the sick person for whose benefit it is offered. They cook a pig or dog in the oven, cut it up, and lay all the parts in order. Then the sacrificer comes and sits at the head, and calls all the names of the dead members of the family of the lio'a in order downwards, saying, ’Help, deliver this man, cut short the line that has bound him.' Then the pig is eaten by