Widows.—­The brother of a deceased husband considered himself entitled to have his brother’s wife, and to be regarded by the orphan children as their father.  If he was already married, she would, nevertheless, live with him as a second wife.  In the event of there being several brothers, they met and arranged which of them was to act the part of the deceased brother.  The principal reason they alleged for the custom was a desire to prevent the woman and her children returning to her friends, and thereby diminishing the number and influence of their own family.  And hence, failing a brother, some other relative would offer himself, and be received by the widow.  Should none of them, however, wish to live with her, or should there be any unwillingness on her part, she was, in either case, at liberty to return to her own friends.

The following is a specimen of one of their love songs:—­

1.  There was Tafitofau and Ongafau, and they had two daughters;
The one was Sinaleuuna and the other Sinaeteva. 
The two girls sat and wished they had a brother.

          
                                                                          Chorus—­Aue!

2.  Again Ongafau had a child, and it was a boy. 
The child grew up, but his sisters never saw him,
They lived apart from their parents and the boy.

    etc.

3.  Then Tafitofau and Ongafau said to the boy, who was called
Maluafiti ("Shade of Fiji"):  “Go with some food to the ladies.” 
The lad went down, the girls looked and were struck with his beauty,

    etc.

    4.  He came with the food and said he was their brother;
    The sisters rejoiced and gave thanks that their desire was granted,
    They had now a brother.
      etc.

    5.  Then the sisters sat down and filled into a bamboo bottle
    The liquid shadow of their brother.
      etc.

    6.  A report came from Fiji of the beautiful lady Sina,
    And that all the swells of Fiji were running after her.
      etc.

    7.  Then off went Sinaleuuna and Sinaeteva to Fiji,
    And took with them the shadow of their brother Maluafiti.
      etc.

    8.  The two sisters dressed up and went to tell her
    All about their handsome brother. 
    But they were slighted and shamefully treated by Sina.
      etc.

    9.  Sina did not know they were the sisters of Maluafiti. 
    She had heard of his beauty and longed for his coming.
      etc.

    10.  The sisters were still ill-treated by Sina; their anger rose,
    And off they went to the water where Sina was bathing. 
    They threw out from the bottle on to the water the shadow of
      their brother.
      etc.
    11.  Sina looked at the shadow and was struck with its beauty. 
    “That is my husband,” said she, “wherever I can find him.”
      etc.