Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/219

 RELIGION. 189 The Ndrundrii samho of Yanua LeTi is a warlock in mischief, but not in invulnerability. He is thus described by the natives : In appear- ance, a man of high stature, of a grey colour, with a head like an Eng- lish dish ; he breathes hard, and the noise of his going is like striking a hard shell with the back of a knife. He stands charged with stealing from fishermen the fish which they bring ashore at night, helping him- self to reserved scraps of food, — and many such misdemeanours. I know a woman and her child whom he nearly frightened out of their wits, and whose screams brought me running to their assistance. Al- though he is a difficult mark, yet some skilful men have transfixed him ; but, on being touched with a spear, he is instantly transformed into a rat. Of apparitions the natives are very much afraid. They believe that the spirits of the dead appear frequently, and afflict mankind, especially when they are asleep. The spirits of slain men, unchaste women, and women who have died in childbed, they hold most in dread. I have known natives hide themselves for a few days, until they supposed the spirit of the dead was at rest. Spirits are supposed to assume the human form at will. Some tell us that they plant the tarawau, a tree bearing an acrid fruit. The notions of the people about the soul and its future state are very remarkable. While the Tongan restricted im- mortality to Chiefs, Matabules, and Muas, the Fijian has attributed spirits to animals, vegetables, stones, tools, and many other things, al- lowing that all may become immortal. Some speak of man as having two spirits. His shadow is called " the dark spirit" which, they say, goes to Hades. The other is his likeness, reflected in water or a look- ing-glass, and is supposed to stay near the place in which a man dies. Probably this doctrine of shadows has to do with the notion of inanimate objects having spirits. 1 once placed a good-looking native suddenly before a mirror. He stood delighted. " Now," said he softly, " I can see into the world of spirits." The light spirit of a murdered man is supposed to remain where the body fell. Hence such places are avoid- ed, especially when it rains, because then the moans of the spirit are heard, as it sits up, endeavouring to relieve its pain by resting the head on the palms of its hands. Some say that these moans are caused by the soul of the murderer knocking down the soul of the slain, whenever it attempts to rise. Bota kaya na nvi ni Qalau ; Sa coxi wai, ye ! Teki taJcadua M uhi-ni-koro ; Teki tcakarua ki vlu-ni-koro ; Ta qoroya na tad ni meda loro. Na tad, ye I "