Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/204

 174 FIJI AXD THE FIJIAXS. On the southern branch of Vanua Levu, a large stone is seen which has fallen upon a smaller one. These, it is said, represent the gods of two towns on that coast fighting, and their quarrel has for years been adopted hj those to^vns. Nearly every town or village has one or more bures, or " temples ; " some have many, which are well built, no pains being spared in their erection and finish. The quantity of sinnet used in the decoration of some of these is immense ; for every timber is covered with it, in va- rious patterns of black and red. Reeds wrapped with the same mate- rial are used for lining door aud window openings, and between the rafters and other spars. Sinnet-work is seen in every part, and hangs in large cords from the eaves. Spears are often used for laths in thatching temples, as well as for fastening the thatch of the ridge-pole, on the projecting ends of which white cowries are fLxed, or hang in long strings to the ground. The spot on Avhich a Chief has been killed is sometimes selected as the site of the buj-e, which is generally placed upon a raised foundation, thrown up to the height of from three to twenty feet, and faced with dry rubble-work of stone. The ascent is by a thick plank, having its upper face cut into notched steps. On setting up the pillars of a temple, and again when the building is complete, men are killed and eaten. On Vanua hevu, trumpet shells are blown, at intervals of one or two hours, during the whole progress of the erection. The bare is a very useful place. It is the council-chamber, and town- hall ; small parties of strangers are often entertained in it, and the head BURE OF NA TAVASAUA. TAVIUN'I.