When war broke out two of the chiefs went inland to consult Tangaloa.  One sat down in front of the sacred grove of high trees, and the other went round behind.  This man was covered from head to foot with leaves, and had only a hole left for the eyes.  No creepers ran up the trees, and no leaves were allowed to be seen on the small stones under the trees, as it was supposed the god was in the stones.  If the stones appeared separated and unusually far apart, that was a sign that the district was about to be broken up and killed or banished.  But if the stones were huddled together, that was a good omen, and indicated union, victory, and strength.

32.  TAPAAI—­Beckoning.

This was a war god of a family on Tutuila.  He was supposed to be present in a trumpet-shell.  When the people were about to go to war the shell was blown by the priest, and all listened.  If it blew rough and hollow it was a bad sign; but if clear and euphonic all were cheered, and went off joyfully under the good omen.

33.  TAEMA—­Glittering black.

1.  The name of a war god incarnate in the kingfisher bird.  If it flew right on before the troops without returning it was a good sign.  There was also a temple with only one opening.  In times of difficulty the old men of the place went inside and addressed the god, who replied in a human voice, but no body was seen.

2.  This was also the name of a goddess said to have been found by some fishermen swimming between Tutuila and Upolu.  They covered her with some fine native cloth, and conveyed her to a place in the bush, where they built a temple for her.  Offerings of food and fine mats were taken to the place, and laid before two men who acted as priests.  On the change from heathenism to Christianity these men had a large quantity of fine mats among the temple treasures.  The temple was destroyed, and with the fine mats pigs were bought, and a grand feast was the final adieu to the darkness and follies of the past.

3.  In another place Taema was a war god, and present in a bundle of sharks’ teeth.  These curiosities were done up in a piece of native cloth, and consulted before going to battle.  If the bundle felt heavy, that was a bad omen; but if light, the sign was good, and off they went to the fight.

4.  Taema and Tila fainga, or Tila the sportive, were the goddesses of the tattooers.  They swam from Fiji to introduce the craft to Samoa, and on leaving Fiji were commissioned to sing all the way,

    “Tattoo the women, but not the men.”

They got muddled over it in the long journey, and arrived at Samoa singing,

    “Tattoo the men and not the women.”

And hence the universal exercise of the blackening art on the men rather than the women.