Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/215

EELIGION. 185 When cocoa-nuts are to be tabued in any particular district, a mound of earth is thrown up by the side of the path leading thereto, and on this a stone or nut, covered with turmeric powder, is placed, and a reed fence built all round. Or a number of reeds are stuck in the mound in a circle, with their leafy tops tied together ; or a piece of nut-leaf is plaited round several of the nuts at a few feet from the ground ; or reeds are set a few rods apart through the district. In all cases, loud shouts of " a tabu I " are part of the ceremony. The length of time during which the embargo may be continued, is determined by the period at which the nuts ripen, or the arrival of a festival, or, simply, the will of a Chief, without whom the prohibition camiot be removed. This is generally done "without form ; but on removing the tabu from the Somosomo Straits, the King, priests, and a number of aged and influential men, assembled on board a first-rate canoe, which w^as moored at some distance from the shore. Yaqona was prepared, and part of the first cup poured into the sea as a libation, accompanied by a prayer to the gods for life, prosperity, and plenty of fish. The Straits were then open for the fishing parties. Violations of the tabu are punished by robbing the transgressor, de- spoiling his gardens, and, in a few cases, by death. Instances have come under my own observation, in which a King's son — quite a boy — was allowed to place a tabu on all kinds of food then in the gardens. About twenty lads, from eight to seventeen years of age, formed his suite, who passed the night under the same roof with him, and in the day-time were sent abroad as spies. When the party retired to rest, or rose from sleep, the fact was published by the noise of conch-shells. Persons who had to make any of the feasts be- longing to the confinement of a wife, or other events, had first to lay their case before this juvenile court. Any who failed to do so, soon saw the Chief lad and his retinue running towards their house with little flags and native trumpets. A heavy blow on the house fence announced their arrival, and, in the space of another minute, they were on their way back to the rendesvouz, each bearing a club, or spear, or mat, or any other article that came to hand, and all shouting ' amain over the mischief. Fear of the gods is often alleged as a -reason for observing the tabu; but it has already been shown that this fear is somewhat questionable. Sometimes the natives get angry with their deities, and abuse and even challenge them to fight. The Malaki fishermen make offerings to their sea-gods to obtain suc- cess in catching turtles, which, when taken, they offer to the Rakiraki