Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/217

 RELIGION". 187 attired in green leaves and scarfs, bring from their house into this square the votive offerings, consisting chiefly of small clubs and trumpet- shells. They then seat themselves within the enclosure, and thump their little drums right lustily. While the luve-ni-wai have been thus occupied, the principal person- ages have not been idle. Each has been decorating himself in character, and providing himself with the apparatus needed for the performance of his part. Presently their uncouth forms are seen in the distance, in every variety of fantastic motion. Some run in one direction, and some in another ; they nod their heads, gaze upwards, dance ridiculous- ly, and fill the air with groans, grunts, and shrieks. One youth — the Linga Viu, or " shade-holder " — runs round a circle which includes all the performers, the drummers and the shakers; himself shaking the while, and starting from his course as though unable to command his limbs, and waving a sun-shade which he carries. Vuninduvu, " the chief man," was, on the particular occasion to which I have referred, armed with a battle-axe, and exciting himself for his performances. Mbovoro capered about with a cocoa-nut, which, when he had summoned sufficient courage, was to be broken by a violent blow on his bent knee. Linga- vatu took the easier method of pounding or pelting his nut with a stone. These feats accomplished show that the gods are helping them, and all are encouraged to call and w^histle to the deities to enter their votaries, each of whom becomes excited into a frenzy. Ai Vahaihamhe calls amain for his god, and Matamitha shoots at him, or at a nut he holds under his right arm, while all shake like creatures possessed. In some cases Kau-ni-niu holds the nut. The others, as they persuade them- selves that the god has entered them, present themselves to the Vunin- duvu to be struck on the top of the abdomen, believing that if the god is in them, they cannot be wounded by the axe, or spear, or musket, whichever may happen to be used. These orgies are free from any pol- lution or licentiousness, but are, nevertheless, accompanied by their own evils. They encourage idleness, and injure the parties concerned by depriving them of proper food ; while, if the Vuninduvu is over-simple or over-zealous, he is sure to kill some of the actors engaged. Pilgrimages are sometimes made to Nai Thombothombo, the north- ern point of Mbua Bay, and the spot whence the spirits of the departed embark for the abode of Ndengei. I have known persons from a dis- tance, who expected that they should see there both ghosts and gods. When contrasted with the bays between which it stands, this is a most beautiful spot. The shore gradually rises from high-water mark for a short distance, and then succeed abrupt, precipitous cliffs, about fifly 13