be seven instead of six.  The trick of adding secretly a pig was carried on by some of the priesthood, and, in the eyes of the credulous multitude, added vastly to the wonder-working power of Turia.  On another island the shrine of Turia was a very smooth stone in a sacred grove.  The priest was careful to weed all round about, and covered it with branches to keep the god warm.  When praying on account of war, drought, famine, or epidemic, the branch clothes were carefully renewed.  No one dared to touch this stone, lest a poisonous and deadly influence of some kind should at once radiate from it to the transgressor.

41.  TUIFITI—­King of Fiji.

This was the name of a village god in Savaii supposed to be incarnate in a man who walked about but was never visible to the people of the place.  He could be seen, however, by strangers.  For instance, if a large travelling party were spending a day at the settlement, and entertained in the usual way by every inhabitant turning out to march in procession to the guests, each with a basket of cooked food, the god would be among them.  This was known by two things.  First, more pigs by one, two, or three than the chiefs arranged to provide; and secondly, by the guests after the ceremony putting such a question as, “Whose son was that handsome young man dressed with a girdle of fancy bush leaves?” while at the same time no one of the place had seen such a person.

The special abode of Tuifiti was a grove of large and durable trees called Ifilele, or Afzelia bijuga.  No one dared to cut that timber.  A story is told of a party from Upolu who once attempted it, and the consequence was that blood flowed from the tree and that the sacrilegious strangers all took ill and died.  In later times the trees fell harmlessly under the axes of the villagers, and were very useful in building a house for their missionary.

42.  TUNA MA FATA—­The Eel and the Litter.

There are two mountains at the west end of Upolu with a stream between them.  On the one mountain Tuna lived, and on the other Fata.  They were in the habit of meeting at the stream close by the habitat of a great eel.  With this they amused themselves by taking it out of the water and carrying it about shoulder high on a litter.

43.  VAVE—­Swift.

1.  This was the name of a war god in Savaii, said to have come from Tonga, and incarnate in the Manualii (Porphyris Samoensis).  Bird of Lii, or Bird of Chiefs, the word may be translated.  If it flew about and behind the war party, they were encouraged and sure of victory; but if the bird fluttered about before them, it was a sign of defeat.  Again, if in time of peace it was seen pecking at the ridge pole of the house, that was a sign of a coming disturbance, and the pressure of some heavy fine.  When the people mustered in the village for battle, and before going off to meet the enemy, they were first of all sprinkled with the juice of a cocoa-nut, and then all united with the priest in the following prayer:—­