Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/208

 178 FIJI AND THE FIJIAK8. to whether the tribe ought then to go to battle, and whether they should have success. The interview was propitious, and the fleet was to sail without delay. In the long list of deities enumerated by the chief priest, Kanusimana had a place, and, among the rest, his favour was solicited. His priest, who was a neighbour of mine, sat by delighted, and looking with great satisfaction at the large fat turtles and ripe plantains which, with other food, were piled in the midst. When the division of the offering came, one poor pudding was all that fell to Kanusimana's share. Chagrined and mortified by losing the green fat and rich fruit which, in imagination, he had already tasted, the little priest started up and ran homewards, swinging his small club like a sling, and the ball- bell at his neck tinkling in the most excited manner as he hurried along. Creeping to his corner, his plan of revenge was soon marked out. In the night the divinity paid him a visit, and declared, on the authority of a god, that if Tuikilakila led his warriors to fight then, he should feel the effects of his godship's anger, punishing him for the recent slight. At the morning yaqona party the priest made known the visit and the message from the god. A young man was directed to bear the important communication to the King forthwith. Tuikila- kila listened, pondered, and, in a few minutes, the thoughts of fighting were given up for the present. The King knew that to pursue his own will in this case would lead to failure, as the threat of the neglected god had dispirited his warriors. In another similar instance, matters took a very different turn. " Who are you 1 " angrily asked the Chief of the priest who sought to turn his purpose : " Who is your god 1 If you make a stir, I will eat you ! " And Oroi Eupe knew that this was no idle threat. The priests exercise a powerful influence over the people, an in fluence which the Chiefs employ for the strengthening of their oti, by securing the divine sanction for their plans. Tlie sacerdotal caste has for some time been rapidly declining ; but it still retains, in some parts, much of its old power. The priesthood is generally, but not invariably, hereditary. A man who can shake well, and speculate shrewdly, may turn his abilities to account by becoming a priest. He must Meigh probabilities with judgment, and take care that his maiden effort at divination is not too glaring a blunder. The rank of a priest is regulated by that of the god to whom he is a minister. When the chieftaincy and priesthood meet in the same person, both are of low order. Each god has a distinct order of priest, but not confined to one family. A bete can only ofliciate in the temple of the god whom he serves • and a worshipper of a particu-