This deity was also supposed to be incarnate in the sea eel (Muraena).  In a village where the first Christian native teachers were located one of them caught an eel and had it cooked.  Two lads of the place who were their servants ate a bit at the evening meal.  As soon as the people heard that these lads had “eaten the god,” they mustered, gave them a beating, and dragged them off to a cooking house.  They laid them down in the oven pit, and covered them with leaves as if they had been killed, and were now to be cooked as a peace-offering to avert the wrath of the deity.  It was expected that the lads would immediately die, but as nothing amiss happened to them beyond the weals of the rods used by mortals, it was concluded that Taisumalie was a mere sham, and that they had better now turn to the God of heaven.

3.  Taisumalie was also the name of a household god, and worshipped among various families in different parts of the group.

(1.) In one place a member of the family was the incarnation, and consulted on everything of importance.  Before going to war each one would ask whether he should go, what was to befall him, etc.  If wounds or death were predicted, the person would perhaps turn round and beat the priest for giving such a response!

(2.) In another place this god was incarnate in an old man who acted as the doctor of the family.  The neighbours also took in their sick to him.  His principal remedy was to rub the affected part with oil, and then shout out at the top of his voice five times the word Taisumalie, and five times also call him to come and heal.  This being done, the patient was dismissed to wait a recovery.  On recovery the family had a feast over it, poured out on the ground a cup of kava to the god, thanked for healing and health, and prayed that he might continue to turn his back towards them for protection, and set his face against all the enemies of the family.

(3.) To another family he was incarnate in the cuttle-fish (Octopus).  To another in the mullet.  To another in the turtle.  If, through a stranger or by any member of the family, an incarnation had been cooked in the family oven, it could not be used again until some one had been laid there as a mock burnt-offering, and gone through the “make-believe” process of cooking.  It was death to the family if the oven was used without this ceremony.

35.  TILI TILI—­Swift.

A village god in Upolu, noted for mischief-making, and supposed to be the cause of quarrels, war, and darkness.  Seen in the lightning.  If there was much of it in a time of war it was believed that the god had come to help and direct.  Constant lightning in a particular place indicated an ambushment of the enemy.  Continued flashes in front was a sign that the troops of the enemy were driven.  But if the lightning moved from the front backwards, that betokened danger, and was an order to retreat.