Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/62

42 an ordinary Ambassador is deputed, who offers a whale's tooth, or some other soro in the name of the people. The terms dictated to the conquered are severe, including, generally, the destruction of their town and its defences, and the abject servitude of its inhabitants. In the Mbua district, hostilities are closed very appropriately. On a set day, the two parties meet, and throw down their arms at each other's feet. At the time, dread of treachery often makes them fear, as they give up their weapons ; but afterwards a security is felt which nothing else could produce.

Fijian warfare is very expensive, especially when foreign aid is called in ; for the allies have not only to be fed, but enjoy full licence to overrun the territory of their friends, and appropriate whatever they choose, beside committing everywhere acts of the most wanton mischief and destruction. "O!" said an old man to me after the departure of a host of such subsidiaries, " our young men have been to the gardens, but the sight dispirited them, and they have returned home to weep." It is customary throughout Fiji to give honorary names to such as have clubbed a human being, of any age or either sex, during a war. The new epithet is given with the complimentary prefix, Koroi. I once asked a man why he was called Koroi. "Because," he replied, "I, with several other men, found some women and children in a cave, drew them out and clubbed them, and then was consecrated." If the man killed has been of distinguished rank, the slayer is allowed to take his name ; or he is honoured by being styled the comb, the dog the canoe, or the fort of some great living Chief Warriors of rank receive proud titles ; such as, " the divider of " a district, " the waster of " a coast, " the depopulator of" an island ; the name of the place in question being affixed. A practice analogous to this is recorded frequently in both sacred and classical history. I had an opportunity of witnessing the ceremony of consecration, as carried out in the case of a young man of the highest rank in Somosomo. The King and leading men having taken their seats in the public square, fourteen mats were brought and spread out, and upon these were placed a bale of cloth, and two whales' teeth. Near by was laid a sail mat, and on it several men's dresses. The young Chief now made his appearance, bearing in one hand a large pine-apple club, and in the other a common reed, while his long train of masi dragged on the ground behind him. On his reaching the mats, an old man took the reed out of the hero's hand, and dispatched a youth to deposit it carefully in the temple of the war-god. The King then ordered the young Chief to stand upon the bale of cloth ; and while he obeyed, a number of women came into the square, bringing small dishes