I·T Is No Longer Possible to Observe at First-Hand the Ritual Of

THE SUPERNATURAL IN TONGA

By E. E. V. COLLOCOTT · T is no longer possible to observe at first-hand the ritual of I. Tongan worship. Even the names of the gods are well nigh forgotten. All that will be attempted bere is to bring together a few of the conceptions of the old Tongan when he came to have dealings with the invisible world, adding little, probably nothing, to the general sum of information respecting Polynesian beliefs, but merely supplying a few points for comparison from a region which has not been so fully described as some others.

TABU

GENERAL REMARKS The main island in the Tongan Group is marked on the maps as •. Tongatabu, though locally it is most often called simply Tonga. Very '. .frequently. however, it is called Tongatabu, sometimes Tonga Lahi (Great Tonga), or Tonga Eiki (Chiefly Tonga). It probably owes its appellation of "tabu" to the fact that it is the residence of the great chiefs, those who in the beginning descended from heaven, the offspring of a mortal woman. and a god. These chiefs are the fount and source of chiefly influence and prestige, the head of the sacred 'polity of. the group -in its practical working. Natives say that the people of the northern groups of Haapai and Vavau would remark on the incessant tabus imposed on them when they visited Tonga on account of the- proximity of the high chiefs. That can have hap­

:':pened, however, only in the immediate entourage of the~egreat lords. The idea of tabu itself :is twofold, or has a twofold aspect, indi­

cating firstly sacredness, that which is nefas~frequently equivalent to the holiness by which our English Bibles render the Hebrew qadosh, mysterious perilousness and unapproachablen.ess which surrounds power. Beside;s this uncanny essence 'of the occult tabu em­ 4'5 • •

come have known, surrounded awe. arrived 4 neglected to though ensure ined, and is dustrial magic. relation stall, elements the relations, hibitions, sacredness. last verb for used signification with common braces degree of Christian

16

in

primitive

man

From

The Besides religious

the

in

scientific

tabui

however, all the now

corresponding

by. been

There

concretely

a an

man

all of

light freedom in

range

of

cases

activities.

In

uncanny

satisfactory

use,

or in

before

widening worship tabus,

with

old his which

included

" sacredness,

rather

man

by its

the

may

to

man

I sanctity

definite

they

is

a may man the relations

of

supernatural,

am

document.

that

practical prohibitions

the

regulate

no

with

simple

was

ideas means"

as his

frequently

the

they

vengeance unable reduplicated

throw,

vague

sense though

at

AMERiCAN

doubt to under

Some adjective experimental

birth

of

body

so religious yam

the

the

included

meet

are

as

to

gods the

application

curtailed, classify word

of

to

to

stage as

for

great tabu

the that does

till harvest,

of

tabus, I

all

Possibly

of

bless,

approach

say. place

safeguarded

rid the

do

to

of

and

prescriptions

example,

tabueL->ina same

his part mystic

persons tabu

practice, of

form

in

under

ANTHROPOLOGIST

the also and

what himself, not

demands

the

chiefs

under therefore, though

death, These

development

or

evidence some

or and

violated to

word

remember

their

often there

the

phenomena

the

tob~ttabu

of sanction.

would tabu

to

daily

and

on

to

parcel a

man

and directions

words and but

Or

word

preserve

"if mind

by

tabu,"

and

meaning of

the

terrifying

social are

is which

things.

that

after

was

tabu. life

should

laws

verb

in be whether religious, very

to

working regarded

of which

to so several

tabuha.

at

are

some

his

be

it and

It the

obviously

into organisation

regulate

it,

the which beyond filled have

the

wide, tabuakii,

is

the must Although is

native used

gods,

be

the primitive

consequences a

body

cases

indicates

various

same "to

purity

the

system

precise of

social, compounds studied

with seen

with

varying noun

Tongans

frequently There not

[N.

th1.7

sympathetic

mortal

the

invest

ideas

tabu

of

even

not

which thing,

s.,

the

the. shadowy be

of

civilised sanction

tabuaki,

the conduct groups, than and

of

ancient man

23,

a

rather

imag­

is easily

social be

same three must fore­ from

with

ken, high pro­

had

un­ 192!

the

are the

in­

of

as to

in in is

GOLLOCOTT]

no dread, of entails and

temporary, but oft enjoyed many a beliefs.

ment, the be ment, fruits

means by hibitions much properly way and teaching. strictly branch The districts, thought. is one food

from

motive

them

oetoil more

not overstated.

the

In recurring less however

importance

of

this is

practice,

a

of and, and as their of

a on

passing stored

calIed

for

Jewish

primitive the

useful. enforced in from

church

resulted

for

the

A to

which

against

rendered

the

idea

of

some

drink

From whilst though

primitive

Haapai A

potency make

mild

on

more

ineffective

old

white

holding

the

a nor

or

Tongan

of not

name

it

the of shrub roof

all

manner respects

used.

labor Again,

than

from THE are Tabu man

regard

climate, the

life may

harrowing the

excessively

economic

the

in

might

laborer infrequent

farmer. Islands

in

into

Sabbath, man

served

duties

social the on

wretched.

many tabu

SUPERNATURAL has

in modern

will

promoting be the

Book)

their

It

in

of

to

that a

an

the

Tongan

share,

abundant exchanged the remarked

is

greater

than

the

through mistaken

not thought.

sacredness, day

empty of

imposed gatherings

factors observance

would dread

Fourth said Rather

day.

burdensome.

as carrying

in

matter "Sabate,"

tendency the

so

a·

is

went

labor

that white There

due version material

much

liberty

more

tin than more

be drinking

Again,

in

rainfall, less

Commandment

that premisses by

for

Thus

far of placed regard

a

national being

entirely also,

IN

in

over

any

may

countries, religion

few positive

is as were

toilsome

easily

social

his

than is

Christianization to

of

church

TONGA

certainly

well-being

church pluck

Sunday,

supplied

the

water

The years assure

water have tabu imder heathenism to the

to and

many

did

of relations assimilated and

repugnant

a

tabu scientific

precepts proper

Bible

a perhaps

fear

on been new

fertile

buildings

primitive

buildings his ago

from especially

which

the

flower

physical

cultural

are

not caHed tabus,

by

the

day.

is

Christian

of

a

set eaves. (which they

his

were naturally

to

not church

the would child seventh

of

soil, agriculture

had

were hell

to in Or frequently

of

but

underrate

discarded

and

The

Christian imposed

at are develop­

likely

content­ Tongan science,

in Tongan neither

Tongan break

objects

dripped

in died which

by

some

which they,

seem

more con­ roofs

tabu. rural

pro­ 4

day,

and the

the

1

to

7

in

a of tabu gone this

meric, nights, for possessions, questioned, longing with and were may appropriate

as for The this e.g., pa'rtly off. other precaution usually She only the 4 ing her ical

any working

1

pnberly.

8

After the

a

bathing

instance,

Before cut

other to

a cord

pregnant be bath. the local

especial the sort

must

nnts

fixed

deformed She

method

nut,

and

or, child within drink

to trussed

up

about

operation

hand

of of

become

con:(1nement

ambiguity by as him

mUst

pierced

not

a one

hee the period,

and his At

having

stigmata. though

girdle

sympathetic

is

After

must

force fowl. steal

we

striking

woman

may

and

two

her

she

birth

sure cut about

up child by

mother

confessed

as

not

should

entangled

of

a be

like may at against piercing or partly

be

been in child's inches

anything three

though

AMERICAN if

to

fowl

These the

supercision, sit

will

by

properly

the

the n1t1st

necklace

this

deformed

off

both

she

the

bear

In

do

must

say,

called

Tongan

in

being magic.

BIRTH nights

be

top. same and

the without

across.

case unauthorized mouth that

1920 obtain so fowl's,

prohibitions allow

around

the the

the mother

the

marked five

with

without not

bottom

prepare

opened.

in about

differently

during

three

time

little

Shonld doorway AND fingers ANTHROPOLOGIST

mark a as

the

is

days. no

which

my

The

his

will

leave and

woman the a

protected

though the The

and

temptation

boy

PUBERTY

knife. the

by

her round

hearing,

nights,

permission

of

fear.

expectant so of

it

house, gape

child's her

she is had

for

the pregnant meddling some,

There

child

Bathing

for the long goes

neck

on

theft. of

perfonned

bore

formed the

pregnancy

a

eye drink

house

of like

been

the

nut,

a Should after by

pregnant neck.

her sympathetic though are

lock to

lest

fingers

are

house,

other

to

a

tabus

at

oven mother

the to the

was

Should

thus

woman with

child

smeared cut induce child's

one

a in two

or the

on of

use

boy

sea she

at gaping thefts The labor

doubtfully, also

the which

had

bathe she hair off.

lest, the

opened making

her stalk ways

woman

the

whose

anything

must

and (N.o5.,

had the her

neglect

face

child's coconut must

been prohibited had

deformity,

two

husband's

the left with

approach

as and

She

end, show

for

of

coconut.

to mother,

bathes,

under­

not

hy 23,

stolen reflect she hands a umbil­

apply

sides.

shorn on open­ drink steal,

their

tur­

five was

legs

hole the

this

be­ and

the

put 19:n for

the

a

is

.

c-OLLOCOTT] lock boy's girl's said length left

relatives, born. I but ostensible ceremony. to Tongans length

the cloth and deeper it, whose bridegroom other. his groom with wedding not has male uttered grow veniently, and

am.unable

his arrive,

Amongst

It opinion

long ,be let bridegroom,

that is

not

bridegroom.

so

head

the and hair

ignorance

up

head is

of

now all

marriage

so

The

may interest it

He forth. yet a

time,

the

at

gifts

time other prepare

a on

mats

go used,

purpose,

over native wish has

seems

and

great

the obsolescent. the happy been

For of

be added to

the

h

which

in

however, varying

which become

used say

very

presents. in

cloth sides, the

and and

for

as The the

gifts

some of called

them but

cut. warrior cloth THE to

of

a

ancient

pair

The

that

that

paterfamilias and

any

the that the

honsehold. by favorite have general

small. the'

then

ultimately and

paternal this

at

but

SUPERNATURAL according days

even

The to rarely, forth

for

the

interesting I

to there

futnre

such indeed young

a girls

in

have candle-nuts

or been One

has

Tongan allowed that

wedding cleanse

It

rettun

bride

any towels,

cutting prior

more

fisherman, distribution

detergent) shonld the

rciecannot practice

used

is been

henediction

if

still

seen at

cut.

career

couple

case do !ilIs

always to ever, The

in

statement,

to puberty to

struck

rare

ceremonial, and

to

to statement not

sees

and are the

of

categorically bathing

any

our he they

the

to

This

were

grow. be

midwife

of use

the

shall

period mats, keep

beautify than

the

that added IN

candle-nuts it,

undoubted

the marriage

new-born

are

cut

of

it the are

the

cord

not this practice

but

presented TONGA

lot

we;e

asunder

and

a presents

possibility

lay

the

it short

presented

presented

child-that distributed be has

This

before

girl hair

that

or infrequently of

thoughtful

not

for

was

placed

lightly

their as

themselves boy's

denied

afterwards the

are been

of

might

on infant,

was frequently. the of

example. themselves

treatment

few

performed

(with

the with

hride

to

high

at better

the

leaving

children

long

portion

the made

by

that to set

cut

the

have

the

by

to

guests

be

a

crown gift

whose

the

both chiefs,

an

aside. which and

boy

the cord

the ,beautiful, bride calIed

the lock versed

they

wedding

for

given

that

taken

bride's of a

axe

for

guests at

by of

hride­

when

begin

same might

bride

chief

long It

each and and cord

4 con­

the will and

the. all, the

the

the the its

1

for

In .he is

to

in

9

a is place and turned, filled to their maid, may match rogative place is party is he

from find would notation. "sister" fined are This principle, by wards 4

Mariner's

forbid the nizable as success

20

short,

sitting not

smile.

enter

nev~r

Mr.

of Social stricken

spot

that

love,

be

of with

tabu

her,

with to at

distantly

has

better

entirely

course

his

though an

McKern his place, in brought

it

life all.

the

may a

brothers

with

talking entering

which except

been shame, and

life is

eldest The noted love Distant inferior

Tonga),

the room

temporary

heart

has eldest to translate

he

This

misleading

e.g.,

so is the

incompatible approval he related, arranged in

secure

girl's

was

marked

custom,

together resumed where by guarded has sister,

to

and

of

the

and

to the

appears

tabu breadth

in

cousins

AMERICAN sister, to

"Every

Mariner other

very

the

informed

another

case

a

the the

real

house

a touch

sisters

exile.

set

his which mound

upon

match

by

the sister

of terms

Mr.

innocent,

Tongan

unhappy by

its and but

both

women

their brother to

are of

planting sister

the SOCIAL

hitherto

where with

chief

his

tabus

between normal island. Mariner the are

have

respect is

the me, coming mated.

for

if

ANTHROPOLOGIST of if

included,

relatives

affections superior.

general.

intercourse understood

tabu

is

cousin there words.

boys

his also

the

became

TABUS corresponding which is swain

she

in

left

a

sitting,

tabued

course, carefully

tree Tongan he

has brother

couple sister

upon to particular,

resides;

pays and

Quite

be

his

marriage,

shows

carried On

in each

and

not

known

or

But one

on "

Dr. girls.

H

mllst

unlucky

their her

must Brother"

the

either with of and

brother" concerned. shrub.

satisfactorily

recently and each

resentment, "collateral

other. buried

using conveniently

but

in Martin brothers

brother.

greatest

his

the professed

keep most the

Tongan

their

not

The an sister

which other, side upon,

embarrassment

passion

relatives

H

youth

in

odd

A

approach brother" and and

a at

general

English severed

remarks

[N.

whose some

and is

youth brother, what

respect

When

a

but relatives"

may

terms If

way,

S"

H.

learned."

"sister"

not

distance close,

has himself

sister"

in

sisters a

23,

fail.ed

when recog­

exact

form

cord,

man pre­ take

con­ con­

and

viz.,

and

the the

1921

we

(in to­

if

or

GOLLOCOTT]

necessarily his None

marriages the and

tween the probable was

against explanation

closely "close back."

of by

still rule suspects the by now the

the viands all simple

after cause is the the noted

The

food

Considering

people the a mother's A

superior

resorting file, unpleasant

platter

sore cure against coconut,

higher

is

drinker.

peculiarly usually

of

tabu

brother

another

sharing

later.

superior

a marriage relatives" collusion. kin ,

an form

and

or

that, to these

spot,

sore

used

are

it

the immediate

still drink

of

have

those

rank.

it incest

of is is

brother's

being

employed.

at

of

is throat, more a at and

but

a that to tabu in

same

consequences. relationship

A

regarded

the

the fit

superior whose

once said

coconut

been of cousin

least of

THE

imitation

be

whose

similar

a

as

the

sister After

rec~ptacle completely

A

this

<;lose

to origin

common a

social

closeness

Tongan

effected

indeed

such,

which

to application

superior. caused

person

SUPERNATURAL

in

hand the

victuals

daughter,

tabu

marriage

the

is is

may the relatives.

the common

comparatively

Should

idea

inferior,

status

of of that though

fairly

terms

that

has

can,

highest unseen

inferior

seems in amongst by

suffering once

to

the be

closed

the of

It

have

to of

this

been

when

an

retain

The

however, part

of

anyone common,

is though

connection of chiefs. most

must

ancestry not

this very this

remarked

though

to

in application With the powers

way,

caused chief

;round

women

has

penalty

found

of

such

eating chiefs be the

is

is IN the from

favored

ancient superior's be

stringent

the

helped desire

not will

other most

reference

item

found available.

TONGA

be

but

old

understood but

marriages influence

is

the

may

equally

general

as the or than

a

for in

to take cured

even

more legends

for :regarded, sore

of of

trouble,

times, to in drinking is itself himself fqrms

be

me,

the

foregoing

in

Tongan

hand amongst drinking

a that the

help English.

one

cheated to

by four

efficacious

throat,

short probably

Fiji

violation system

emanating

"We

oCCUr

In necessarily

the

the

chief's

make

as small are be:'ng

of

himself

will

or

to

the

earlier

generations

possibly

and

expressiori

cut

connoting

safeguard

a

the

sentiment by

the

possible. by which a tabu

cotmt amongst

wherein ward

man

it remains opening,

Cousin

stroked

coconut

because to

foot of

will one

tabued

a and

more

rank

from

from days little 421 cure

this be­

the

to

be­

off as he

of

to

be

is 423 422 AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST [N. S., 23, 1921 COLLOCOTT] THE SUPERNATURAL IN TONGA

The tabus relating to contact with the body of a superior are nat­ must make shift to obtain elsewhere a utensil fitted for their purpose. urally most marked in reference to high chiefs, but the respect paid A strict regard to the tabu surrounding the persons of superiors to chiefs seems to be part and parcel of the general social system. would introduce almost intolerable inconveniences into the relations throughout which the gradations of rank are well known. of intimate domestic life, but although there is considerable relaxa­ The head and back are the most sacred portions of a chief's body. tion the tabu of the head and face is observed fairly strictly. A No one will touch the head of a superior nor pass close behind his father's head is tabu to his child. There may be Tongan fathers who back without apology. In the case of a great chief he would not would pick tip their. children and let them pull their moustaches or pass there at all. In certain great ceremonial kava drinkings there hair as many a white father does, but they can not be numeroUS. The is a high chief who sits, not in the ring where the majority of the Tongan father does not nurse and caress his child as freely as the chiefs have their place, called the aloft, but in the portion of the European father does. There are doubtless other considerations op­ ground where the kava is prepared, called the toua. But although erative, of which, by.the way, lack of natural affection is not ore, but this chief is called the chief of the toua, he sits by himself at some probably the most potent reason is the tabu of the father's person. distance to the rear and side of the group who are brewing the drink, so that all work in connection with the ceremony is performed without DEATH anyone's passing behind him. So in the aloft the attendants as they In the treatment of the dead the working of these ideas is clearly come and go always pass within the circle, before the chiefs, and • seen. The body is prepared for burial by those of family rank supe­ never outside, behind them. rior to that of the de~eased,who had been able to approach him freely Eating and drinking in the presence of a high chief of greatly during his lifetime. Relatives and friends of inferior rank will pay superior rank to oneself is tabu.. A great chief himself may. experi­ a farewell visit to the deceased shortly after death. _but the visit is, ence this inconvenience in the presence, e.g., of the king. This has short; and during it they sit at a respectful distance in that part of been noted by old voyagers, and an example came under my notice the room towards which the feet of the. body are pointing. The within recent years. A white lady invited the late king of Tonga visitors may indeed kiss the face of their dead friend (probably an and a couple of high chiefs to dinner. One of them was able to eat innovation since the introduction of Christianity). but after bestow­ freely in the presence of His Majesty, but the other, a robust young ing the kiss they at once retire to a proper distance. There are those man who might have been expected to own a healthy appetite, toyed who kiss, not the face, but the feet of the deceased. Ordinarily the with his food in embarrassment. Afterwards he laughingly remon­ body is prepared for burial by those whose relations to the deceased strated with his hostess for her unkindness in setting such an excel­ enable them to approach him freely, and they suffer no inconvenience lent dinner before him in the presence of the king, where he was from the contact. In the case of high chiefs, however, the last offices unable to do justice to it. This tabu against eating in· the presence are of necessity performed by those of inferior social status, and , of a high chief may be overcome by retiring to a short distance and their hands are thereafter tabu for a certain period, during which the turning the back to the great lord. tabued person may not feed himself. It has not often been the for­ Leaving the matter of eating and drinking to return to respect to tune of Europeans in these latter days to see a perso"n with tabued the person of superiors, we find that if a chief be sitting with some hands, but the Rev. C. F. Walkden Brown, late Chairman of the Meth­ utensil close behind him which the people about wish to use, their odist Mission, who left the group in 1908, was on one occasion only hope is that the chief will himself notice their predicament and present at a Tongan feast in company with a man under this interdict. tell someone to come and take what is required. Otherwise they The rites in connection with the burial of great chiefs have fortu- 2 42 4 AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST [N. S., 23, 1921 . COLLOCOTTJ THE SUPERNATURAL IN TONGA 4 5 nately been described by early travellers with a considerable amount probably puzzle most natives to draw the exact line at which the class of detail concerning ceremonies unfamiliar to the present generation of the soul-bearers ends and that of the soulless begins. Chiefs were of. Tongans. The European custom o.~wearing black clothing and buried in cemeteries (to which amongst other names that of malae black arm bands as a sign of mourning is now universal and carried is applied), whilst the lower orders were interred in some convenient through much more completely than is usual amongst Europeans, place close to the dwelling. A man living alone would perhaps be especially in these hot tropical latitudes. In addition the old Tongan buried inside his house and the house then deserted or even burned practice of wearing a ragged mat is still adhered to. A mat, other down. The members of a more numerous household would be buried than the cloth loincloth, is a mark of respect to superior rank. In round about the house, and when say half a dozen had been thus dis­ the item of the mat as a sign of mourning close relatives of the de­ posed of the survivors would seek a fresh site for their habitation. ceased will wear a ragged mat, but those not nearly akin to the Christianity has endowed the common folk with souls, and promoted deceased will wear a good one. As a mark of respect to a chief if their mortal remains to the dignity of as careful interment in ceme­ a mat be not obtainable any SOrt of belt seems to answer the purpose. teries as that enjoyed by their" betters." In speaking of a very high A few years ago I was :..vorking with some boys a few hundred yards dead chief it is not uncommon to refer to him as "the chief in such from the beach. The king was on a visit to our island and happened a burial ground, or malae." The highest chiefs are often said to be to be standing at the time near the beach. None of the boys would "away," or H at a distance," when their death is spoken of. even remotely approach the place where His Majesty was without After the death of the late King George II, in '9,8, the body lay first girding himself with a piece of mat or some substitute. Some in state for several days (not an ancient custom), and every night of the boys wound a length of a creeping vine about themselves. Old during the lying in state multitudes of lanterns were burnt about the travellers have noted that, in the presence of a chief, people who hap­ palace, and little fires completely snrrounded the compound. These pened to be clad about the shoulders turned their clothing back to the were tended in silence during the night, and might not be extinguished waist. It was tabu to have the native cloth (ngatu) about the body, until the first had been put out by one of the very few persons-one but the mat (fala) around the waist, even if it extended higher up at least of whom was a woman-of sufficiently high rank to give this the body than was permissible for the cloth, was not only allowed but signal. In this, as in other matters, foreigners are exempted from enjoined as a mark of respect. The leaves of the ifi (Tahitian chest­ the tabus which bind the natives. One morning when a native able nut) around the neck were a sign of the utmost respect, and regularly to extinguish the first flame was not at hand the services of an Indian worn by those who had a great boon to ask. cook were requisitioned, or were just about to be when a native, Anciently the disposal of the body of a man of insufficient social appeared who was entitled to perform this ceremony. In the case elevation to be possessed of a soul seems to have differed considerably of the kings the tasks connected with their burial are largely in the from the elaborate ceremonial which marked the interment of a high hands of the craftsman class or hereditary gnild (haa tuJunga). chief.. This is only to be expected, as the chief's body has been the The tombs of the old Tongan kings stand in inviolate sanctity in temple of a spirit which lives on in Bulotu, although apparently places almost untrodden by human foot, and the gloom of forest and capable of revisiting his earthly shrine, or in some other way e.."Certing thicket enshrouds these abodes of supernatural dread. In modern influence in its vicinity. The commoner's body was not the seat of a times the Christian care of the resting places of the dead has over­ soul and its neighborhood was less likely to be made uncomfortable come the old avoidance of burial-places. The present kings of by ghostly disturbances. This apparently straightforward division Tonga, moreover, are buried in the town of Nukualofa, the capital, into chiefs and commoners is not so simple as it looks. It would and the necessity of keeping such a site clear is modifying the old tabus.' 426 AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST [N. S., 23, 1921 aOLLOCOTT] THE SUPERNATURAL IN TONGA 4 2 7

THE TU! TONGA tioning the ailments of himself or of some other person, at last com­ The Tui Tonga when travelling was frequently borne on a litter, ing to a point where description languishes _for lack of an outright though land on which he stood, or houses into which he ,entered, did term, the dreadfully blunt truth must be told, "Tabu to you," and not become tabu alld therefore unavailable to their former possessors the exact condition of a leg or an eye is detailed.' Matters which are or users. Mats and cloth which he used seem not to have returned treated with great reticence by Europeans are discussed by mixed to their former owners, but to have become the property of the Tui companies of Tongans with perfect freedom and complete' absence Tonga. Such articles he seems frequently to have passed over to his of embarrassment. retinue. The tabus surrounding the Tui Tonga's person were of COUrse strict. The LOndon Missionary Society's missionaries who INSTALLATION OF TUI KANOKUBOLU arrived in the Duff in '797 relate that the Tui Tonga going into their No important ceremony is conducted without kava drinking, and house in western Tongatabu requested that they shave him. This in the preparation and serving of the kava is seen the flower of ceremony of the toilette was perforn'led, but until everything was Tongan ceremonialism. Usages vary in the two great houses of the safely finished the natives about were in the greatest trepidation lest Tui Tonga and the Tui Kanokubolu. The modern consolidation of some of the sacred hair should fall to the ground. The operation of the kingdom has confirmed the power of the Tui Kanoknbolu, and supercision could not be performed in Tonga on the Tui Tonga. He the office of Tui Tonga, although the higher in rank, has been abol­ had either to go without the operation or visit Samoa or Fiji for the • ished. In 1918 the present queen ascended the throne of her island purpose. kingdom with the title of Tui Kanokubolu, the tItle which. was borne CEREMONIOUS SPEECH by her predecessors in the sovereignty of this now constitutional (on An interesting example of the tabu surrounding the great chiefs European lines) state. Besides a European crowning there was also is'seen in the opening of ceremonial speeches in their presence. The an installation by the .old kava ceremony. This was anciently per­ speaker clears away, group by group, the tabus that would prevent formed at Kanokubolu, whence the title of Tui Kanokubolu (King of his speaking. He says" Tabu for such a one," using an expression Kanokubolu) is derived. Kubolu is the same word as the Samoan which it is exceedingly difficult to render into English, but. whose Upolti, and legend asserts that this. line is descended from a Samoan real significance seems to be, "With all due regard to the tabu of woman and a Tongan chief. Kana is a root found in words meaning So-and-so." This introductory apology having been completed the H flesh," "body." The late Dr. Moulton renders Kanokubolu as speaker will say, "It is now permissible for me to go on with my "Heart of Upolu." In Kanokubolu the king used to be installed speech." There are two important sets of ,these tabu formulae, one with his back towards a certain tree, and the ancient· requirements for the Tui Tonga chiefs and the other for the Tui Kanokubolu, but have been met in modern practice by letting a piece of wood from naturally enough the practice of thus prefacing a speech is widely the traditionary tree into the back of the· throne. The water for extended. In sermons, ordinary addresses, and in conversation, any­ brewing the kava was 011 this occasion brought by a great number of thing which the speaker, feels should be introduced" saving the pres­ runners from a supply a short distance away. So freely and with ence of" his auditors will be introduced with this apologetic preface, such obvious intention was water spilt as to suggest a charm, but Especially is this the case when mentioning -bodily infirmities to good Tongan authority asserts that the water was spilt so that each person of 'superior rank. A commoner w~uldscarcely mention at all man might arrive at the bowl with .but little, and that the whole I'ro­ a physical defect of a chief to whom he was speaking, at any ceeding might be marked by the maximum of bustle and activity on withotit the- license' of intimately friendly conversation, but in the part of as; great- a number as possible to show the· numbers and 428 A1Y!ERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST [N. S" 23, 1921 COLLOCOTT] THE SUPERNATURAL IN TONGA 429 zeal of the queen's followers. The strainers (bunches of wild hibis­ Presumably if men passed from one side to the other of the net the cus fibre) were provided by special groups whose prerogative it was, fish would do the same. The various sweet-smelling flowers which and represented certain chiefly families. are used to adorn and scent the leaf-girdles which are always worn During the ceremony three conventional speeches were delivered on festival occasions by both men and women, but particularly by the by three chiefs helonging to the Tni Kanokubolu group, who each women, are protected by a tabu belonging to the range of sympathetic before speaking slid forward without rising, with two little jerks, magic. Flowers that have been used in the leaf-girdle must not be returning in the same manner to his place when his speech was fin­ butnt before they are quite dead and dried up. Should this tabu be ished. These speeches followed traditionary forms, and were ex­ violated the tree from which the burnt blossoms were taken will hortations to the Tui Kanokubolu and the people to do their duty to thereafter be useless for sllpplying flowers for the girdles, and any the Tui Tonga chiefs. The first referred to shell-fishing, the secoud blooms plucked from it will quickly fade. . It is only the individual to the bonito fishing, and the third to the fruits of the soil. tree which is affected, and flowers from other trees of the same An interesting feature of these ceremonies was a man belonging species will retain their scent and freshness as before. to a family which is cOlmected with Fiji, who was decked out like a Fishing, an important industry of the inhabitants of these tiny Fijian warrior. He preceded the royal procession to the ground by islets, and one moreover subject to alternations of success and failure, about a hundred yards or so, crouching and running and looking of calm tranquillity and boisterous hazard, from causes which it is about like an outpost spying out the enemy. When the queen was :Prequently difficult either to foresee or to explain, retains in large seated he violated all tabus and rules of ordinary decency by taking measure its old safeguard of tabus. If a man be out fishing and up his station near her, passing freely behind or before her, smoking someone inquire of his wife where he is she must not tell. Better to whilst standing or lounging close beside her, and finally, when the sacrifice the truth than her husband's lucie This tabu, however, is pig's liver which is customarily offered to the chief on such occasions now falling into disregard. The best known tabus are those con­ was put before the queen, he broke off a piece on the point of his cerning the bonito and the shark. The bonito whose origin, or at spear and ate it in her presence. the least first arrival in Tongan waters, has a supernatural connection The sanctity of the great chiefs is well illustrated in an interesting with the Tui Haangana r the chief of the island of Haano in Haapai, native manuscript which was made available to me by the kindness of will not suffer himself to be caught off that island if the chief ven­ the Hon. W. Tungi and Mr. E. W. Gifford. In these notes the tures outside his house whilst bonito are in the vicinity. A similar special words applied to the highest chiefs, the Tamaha and the Till tabu keeps one of the chiefs of the eastern end of Tongatabu within· Tonga, are called the tobutabu insignia, the most sacred insignia. doors when the bonito appears. There is also a proper order for the Since the institution of monarchy on the European pattern the Tui disposal of the first-'fruits of the bonito fishing in Tongatabu before Tonga words are applied to the reigning sovereign. the fish is available for the people at large. Of no fishing is the ritual more exact and more flourishing today FISHING than that attending the pursuit of the shark. The most perfect har­ Industries have their own tabus. I have been told that formerly mony, even of thought and sentiment, must prevail amongst the a woman must not step over the green shoot of a sprouting yam, fishermen and amongst their friends and relatives ashore. Discord though this is not now regarded, and young women of the present or the hidden rancor of the heart is fatal to success. A young woman generation whom I have questioned know nothing of it. It was relates that in her childhood, as a party of shark-fishers were setting tabu for anyone to step over a ,fishing net whilst it was being made'~ out, she cried to be taken with her father who was a member of the 28 430 AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST [N. S., 23, 1921 COLLOCOTT] THE SUPERNATURAL IN TONGA 431 expedition. Every means was tried to pacify the child, but in vain. " And what then? " The situation was extremely awkward. On the one hand was the " When it does not come there is nothing to do but return to shore, difficulty of taking the girl, and on the other the futility of hoping to because that is the proof that someone has violated the tabu of the take a shark if she were left weeping ashore. Finally, as the child closed house, or perhaps that one of us has some grudge or anger in refused to be comforted, she was perforce taken on board. Tb.e his 'heart. So we must go and correct what is amiss, and then the shark-fishing has been described in his book Chez les Meridionau% du fishing may recommence." 1 Pacifique, by His Lordship Bishop Blanc of the Catholic Mission in The shark indeed is a great searcher of the heart, and the man Tonga, or P. Soane Malia as His Lordship was called at the time of who attempts to approach the cavern where resides the great shark­ publication.1 Before the expedition sets out a house ashore is 'shut god of the island of, Etta will find himself unable to reach the spot up and becomes tabu. "This house had just been carefully shut, should his heart be not as it should be. Although particularly notable shortly before the departure of the fishermen. It was that of the in the case of the shark the same type of idea is found in fishing gen­ head man. Its being closed and the departure of its owner gave it a erally. Persistent ill-luck gets a boat a bad reputation which reflects· mysterious character; it became' house of the fishing,' that is to say more on the ethical qualities of crew and owners, and of the boat a place to which approach was forbidden to everybody until the return herself, than on their skill as fishermen. "The fishing is accursed; from the fishing." The shark is taken by a running noose on the let us go ashore." end of a line, and is enticed alongside the boat by sounding with the Gardens were protected by tabus. Frequently a coconut-leaf rep­ coconut-shell rattle formed by threading coconut-shells on a stick. resentation of the shark was put up on the trunk of a tree, which was and by the fishermen calling out. The crew not only call to the shark as effective as turning the shark-god Taufa loose in the garden. It is to come, but add many blandishment.s, with flattery of its beauty and stated that Taufaahau, better known to Europeans as King George 1­ wily promises of high festival ashore. The subsidiary inducement of under whom, after many .years of strife, Tonga became a homo­ a piece'of roast pork displayed outboard is not wholly discounte­ geneous kingdom with Christianity universally and firmly established nanced. throughout the gronp---experimented with some of these tabu signs When the shark has once come alongside his fate is usually sealed..· to assure himself of the impotency o'f the old gods, and also made the The noose is slipped dexterously over his head, and if necessary a more daring test of swimming out to the opening in the reef of the man will even jump into the sea to make a better adjustment of the island of Lifuka in Haapai and shouting defiance to the sharks. cord. Non-success in this sport is attributed to broken tabus. On the occasion which Bishop Blanc describes nine sharks were taken, SIN and it may be best to quote a little of the conversation which he A general idea of the sort of conduct that was ethically rigbt is with the head of the expedition after its return: obtained by attention to the words which indicate wrong-doing. This "And you have done this (i.e., called and taken a shark) is too lengthy an inquiry to be entered on in any detail in this place, times? " but to inquiries as to what conduct would be formerly included under " Yes." the word hiaJ which is commonly translated "sin" but is today too "And the shark always comes? It always obeys?" much mixed up with the modern machinery of law-courts to afford a "When it does not come that is a bad sign. There is something clear idea of its ancient significance, it was answered murder and in fact which prevents the shark from coming." connection with the wife of a man of superior rank to the offender. 1 It was published by Librairie Catholiqtte Emmanuel Vitte, Lyons Paris, 1910. 1 Qp. cit., pages 59 and 60. themselves, married Although make to oath trated the to family the infant Such no did to his alarming to the and ill.

43 babe soon the latter frailty in rank recently unnoticed lover who people.

Another

marry, 2

the a satisfy

close

uncom'mon The

child

the unfaithful person

possession

chief

recourse

The

of' high

became a

violated

had to them

went today.

escaped

woman on gronp.

the child

Tui

consequences

one

mutual

the and

became

related

native,

condition. secret There no

or gone

wife)

the

chief the

of

whose

Tui or

desire

on

Tonga

of

was care

entanglements

are

friendly too the

was

one

successful

the

most

Not a thing who

spouse. the

of

from of

her Tonga

would

that voyage to commenting the fidelity

had

called unable unseen

fond

of

wrong-doing

or to

wife

had the an

forgive vengeance

infrequently

Mr.

AMERICAN

confessed

legitimate

progenitor

susceptible

for other be

the

given The the she

connection attendant

individual

guilty

and

to

found seem

by

of to.

Gifford rid The

on to

powers.

a

lover,

Euan island

might

the

lot

a

Haapai the of

village

intimate.

because a

of birth of the

word pair

to

on next

fell

great

their

lot, on of

her

children lady,

this

this of

was

and whose be

ANTHROPOLOGIST

reader

a of on

and sexual

Bible. bring

mother had,

with mortals his between

to

man a by

indicating

to

In sin. spin shortly

little

relatives,

Eua

sort illicit bond. chief of line

but

responsible all

a myself.

return choose

spinning

fact

however,

As

the

and relations child, some back

breaches, of

falls three

brought he

of

to doubt

may The

Various

as

love

a

his would

the an

after

love reigning

bestowed

chiefs.

Tongatabu woman

Perhaps

consequence

that

of that may to

a previous ill.

instance story be leaving

removed

offence

Tui

A

affairs

that

handsome

a

not

them romances.

one

the for

impeding with

h guilt the

be coconut, remarked

man

the

he

become

One circumstances

Tonga

who

ends

yet

if

Tui It

the

of

whole was slain

if both

child

the

are

a of would his any

union, was of

and

of

been to his the

royal

do

chiefly Tonga.

of in

not this

[N.,S.,

considerable sick, girl himself

her mother

often

by

Eua fair right the to

the

wives sucp apparently

not that had woman village was

a

his

Not

divulged,

so

not

discover sort

take

his

manner

and infant's

to

parties

course or

charge

23,

desire where

wife's

much child. a fallen

hardy living home

illus­

may

only take

(not

pass

man die. own The

and

and was

the

1921

an

or

is

COLLOCOTT]

of charmer. to

cases Bible, to Tongan,

the

Soon times either fore to a and convulsive in

used ciled returned. went laration

neighbors duty tions. bas inability in a employed this

still

a

say, true

the a

common In

operation.

gods,

Another

white

then

different

it

sometimes

to

root

that

to

after of

off turned

reference heathen ie unhappily, lived and

priest

had that

love, make

Mana him,

man

have by

of

quite informed and

is

In

have have

missionary

of in

movements He the

spread

useless an

peoples

word used

important peevish

of

errant

towards and this an ail

the

that

part

refused district,

is

well.

The

immediate introduction

had

to sent

come been

his

insulting

cases

THE

rendered

Pacific,

ofa

the

sense

murder

he for

of

thronghout

the

and

at

range god.

been

the fancy

for

a

chief never the the

or

the SUPERNATURAL or to

became

man

to the

thunder.

waiting

which conception,

in tendency unprovoked

suitors

cattle less

native

is .GENERAL my

gesture be occult, very

island

Tongan

covered recovery, Mariner

After

procedure the

in

may

who

would that

remembered

of

parties

weighty

own

English

very

indicated

to vernacular

the

angry

assembly MANA Christianity

away

pastor

have of at

is

mana

a

an

with

An

to

level

by

recover.

whole

REMARKS notice especially

time a

remarks, mana.

shared ill,

untimely

and

to

murder

dogmatize single-stick

is this

with

adjective been

reasons with

as his

and

indicates

to

IN

tIns of

the

the

his

rising

that a a

island,

eyes, the idea version

dissolve

culture

TONGA by

a

was

man wonder

Whilst

Boiboi attracted

into same.

priest superstitious

possession l<

littIe Boiboi

was

attractive

end."

the

the, An clergy,

than

is

but

carried from

the

too

(m.ana'ia)

guilty

Boiboi,

Tongatabu, very match,

highly god

old

to Tongans

of

healthy

the

was

tabu he

because

wanton

or

mysterious Recourse

honored positively

conceive

The the

by the

mataboole

~as

European

wide, had

miracle,

oath. of

on to

seized

by

inculcates

but

the

offensive SOIPe

Bible.

stretcher

gods

use

women.

it now advice.

a

been

the

homicide. containing with

the

and

stretcher

but had

chief

and the

abstrac­

In

is of

by

on

some­ recon­

other·

and forces

deity,

latter away

used

there who

their had

and now

433

dec­

It the

the

be­

the

the the

of to

he

It is

is 434

. cision. used probably rnanava"), haps this to known of as the concerned (manava-ft''/i' of the a relation tabu breaking of omen end though unusually length two late fish this panying few the the

spring

be

warnings

the

a

The

Tongatabu portent

chiefs flying-foxes class village King to as years. king's of years means chief.

living under

of

word of

the a

and

the apparently This occult

to

the the which

occurs

sympathetic

off, of

the

George

connected

protracted with

~go, the coast

death of would power and womb, the

which

more to death mana, words The At passing

"little

shore

in

same

the- forces

mankind, threatened

indicated turned

place

the and

are impending in courage calm

of

roaring

was

II,

of occur AMERICAN or or high

Captain though namely of the not together

time

Tongatabu. protected

word

this

with of manava

a or though of force,

disturbance. less

spell western weather,

presaged

red

great

word so

chief this

in the seat

and of

proved of in

(111,ana'va-!alzi

that

lord.

believed much

as apparently an is

a

of calamity the Cook

and

the the universe

truly

some chief.

of locality hence His

by a for Ata,

omen.. or found Tongatabu ANTHROPOLOGIST

place.

OMENS rainy

of

death warning

by this primary sea the

a an to

In

At

Majesty

addressed of breath

great breath,"

branches

tabu.

way

are

arises the

in.

be

on word

omen power the The

the or to Kolovai,

weather.

frequently

in of

without

A Many

several an

approach the

in "great a man. a

island A

of King supernatural significance large compounds rock

(

for

chief. survived

of O1l1en similar an

wide or considerable

the

manava-he also of

the

of

the object of breath

in force. in George tree strict

casuarina

of the

Some approaching

rnanava This these

trees

the manifest

flats natives the of

western of the

king's Usually

Uiha

catastrophe.

in banyan

,

the

the sign

a anatomical which ~ommonest

which western and of

still too skirting with eastern Ol'l:lens meaning

powers

I great

tree [N.

").

there in death "wandering mana

number approaching of fell

trees

womb

Tongatabu, themselves was

affirm

s.,

of their Haapai tree

had

the .

again by

death

shoal

are

down Taking 23,

Tonga­

district

accom~ was a course

of seems

where :mana,

about

death IS some

fear pre- good

uses Ch1S- per­

1921

The

that still

are

the

an an of is

of

is

a

COLLOCOTT]

ters

known. the

occasional give

Ata

This it Ata

Ata, visit manifested

old eastern

of garded evidently who

speaks· over opinion find the relinquish woman another haps and a person kingfisher very to kingfishers." evil A

sign of

California has native

Mr. himself,

story this

the

who last

fuleheH evening from

the a animal is

the spirits

early uneasy

seen

kingfisher Tongatabu. of Tradition as queen, of W.

exceptionally shall uncanny

in has one,

direction cock. is appearance

as

land. a rvisas prevails

the the ominous

no

a the his

is a H. kingfisher who no evening)

being fruitage come near assured

(Ptuotis

very be maimed mist

thus at have

alarming

ominous approaching but less

journey house. Murley

THE

A

buried.

The this was

Several

speaks visitor

a persistently

of

ominous. robust in t1sed unfortunately

on· than similar

severally

of

dwelling

of SUPERNATURAL

have circumstance his tending crying me with to

is

by well

curunculata) entered the

of the

The and

creature. symptoms a three-the a

the for

flight

of

birds a that wide

Mr. and

white

Haapai harbinger

often

the

sea

instance

death broken versed

death

a

return

crowing of rationale divination

come it, is

Mr. white

athletic Murley

the flying rubbish, the indicates

dbow as are

the

the purposing

flying-fox

been

dogs

of

and of mist Murley's room, ominous, as

as A

in wing, across last home.

also

rail publication

flying-fox came came

of

a about of

a Ata. photographed,

a white

man Tongan room. notes IN of

or Mr.

chief.

result no and only by portent evil the at

a

ominous.

and

this pigs TONGA fell

into under cock instances

on longer night'

is

Bunga, in

Gifford him, The place

lizards friend that The unless flying-fox

whilst

presages

correct, his

its into of young

portent. The

snipped

whose my custom, Difference

in of

of

hooting

as is that being recovery

my native other

in ago

the

th~ the

informed evil.

he room,

an chief he tradition and of

Should very

which of

and

middle

own

than as is appearance afternoon

be was pregnancy evil the possession omen its

honored and figures fog flying-foxes

rats friend

a Mr. the

of are

of Not good answered

and

vital to University

warning of observation. the last

sitting

when

a being

an tradition, life,

present him" Boha widely as of present

of Murley,

opinion traveler

only

doomed a

year.

became in cord. owl native

well 435

by death,

the

native (per­ has

it

of of i$ with

re­ an

that in

the a

by 1n to is

as a

missionary

of

ments

to

would

operation

Takai, stem

the own

a

owner

weapon

again

none

child

turning

only

sent

midable

continually

Vahai

warrior,

mighty

natural

and

world

able

43 ence

whether

appearing

girl

piece

the

mana

Mana

6

owner

These

hands·,

there,

over

a

a

other

who

to

weapons

sent

wrapped

it

seem

to

laid

his

was

bundle

of

are

man

instrument

in

direct

appears

to

pull

power

weapon

my

for

upon

could

her

the

the

ship

saw

to

own

manifestations

which

it

of

and

the

than

mana.

so

to

to

thus

agitated

to

across

through

fate,

fetch

example,

unconcern

stem

the

weapon

be

charged

attach of

from

chief

which

it

doubtless

Duff

up

bring

be his

martial

may

the

that

expressing

wrapped

primarily

told

mat

resided

club

or

communicated

it.

in

in

MAN of

These

the

body.

club

the

AMERICAN

by

told

weapons

also

the

much

all he

to

the

it

me

agitated matting.

the

and

with

is

A

open

convulsive

just

courage

gods.

to

was

the

victoriously

with

the

right.

weapon

him

the

this

hand

OF

in

it

banana are

reside

in

the

the

him.

In

importance

mana

was the

the

list

MEN

mentioned,

hope

palm

a

due

abode

that

are

its supernatural

merely

by

these

mat

of

source

open

In

could seen

ANTHROPOLOGIST

juice.

and The

a

in

high

AND

itself

to

tree,

from

spoken

The that

mario

an

that

of

the

movements.

the

sign

in

of

a

her

hand

wie1detl;

world

the examples

prowess apparently

a

supposed

be

power

of

INSTRUMENTS

tool

his

only

account

it

rubbed

messenger

mana.

being

to

one

might

few

of Then

conveyed

enlightenment,

could

much

borrower,

The

the

of

house

the

of

bad

or

force

of

thing

person

examples

as

mana,

mana,

a

the

cluh

he

matter.

receive

by

and but

purposes weapon

of

extended.

not

The

luck,

the placed

foreigner

child

Vahai

and

living

were rubbed

borrower.

in

performing

the

could

or

from

to keep

squeezed

to

and

and

thence

warrior

club

the

on

without

spear

voyage

was

another

an

another.

picked

in

and

borrowed

body,

kept

It

then,

or

of

the

still,

house

other

one

see

of

the

inspiration

temples

[N.

I

is

But

to

of

the

conveyed

of

become

man

should

the

S.,

this

it

himself

no

occasion

not

but banana

and

getting

hO'fever

of

up

Vahai,

indiffer­

a a

course

state­

unseen

in

chief,

\Vas

23, super­

great

chief

club.

If

like

the

was

here for­ clear

was

the

his

to

re­

1921

a

be

a

a

will

departed

ignorance,

ti,e

him "Then

a

Niua

approaching sick

natural

Maealiuaki's

fortunate

his

he Maealiuaki,

pleasure,

apparition recipient

delay world. supernatural

the

to Traced

and philosopher

obtain

COLLOCOTT] floor

in house old

sailing-boat,

times

was

Mr.

wife

render The

not

man

reason

that

chief

arrows,

Mumui

Foou

were

as

which

the

thou

angry

be

visitations.

to

Murley's

mana

As in

of

who gave

as

and

possible,

in

of

lay

able

its

that

pleading

with

received

four

coveted

them danger:

of

a

an

abruptly

chroniclers,

was

to

wilt

from

such death.

sleeps

at

personage

were would

great

ultimate

the

...

with

brightly

to

was

the

receive

example

same

the

large

the

doubtless

eat

know,

weapon

successful

THE manuscript

a

convinced

him. was

frequent

the

fishing

power:

chief,

occasionally

point

and a

wh~n

greatest

ask

his

In

month

for

visit

as

That

visit

conch

illuminated

source

from

SUPERNATURAL

southeast.

July, sacred

it

on

he

for

the

in

for

something

extreme

of

the at

was

from

would

indisposed,

on

year the

little

his

"From had

of

shells,

sprite another

their

the

death

APPARITIONS

in

earthquakes.

respect,

against

mana

'909,

it

that

the

July,

contains

said

rafters

to

boat.

the

was

come. a

time

of

a

troubled

imaginary

consider

stranger

the

island

youth.

with

what

mysterious

were

with

some that

,month

dreadful

This or

this

IgOg

on

'g09,

of

ever

governor

and

their

were

God

the

The

in

the

1fr.

various

a

concrete

which

wrong

much

As

we

IN

adjoining

mishap

was

was

man

the

by

hopes

a

weapon

set

With

who

of

night

it

of

boatman

The

placed

he

Murley's small

TONGA

passed

enemies."

deity

will

questions

gift

a

alarmed

off

fertile

September

visitor

of

might

they

Pretane,

of

he

turned

colored

asked

mark

child

occur,"

of

the examples

before

had boy

supernatural

home course

Haapai,

had

of

gave

spears,

that

to

alarm

a

suddenly

in

would the

informants

sinister

him

in

from

befallen.

the

done,

of

to cure.

at

confessed

lights,

as

on

it

and

The

portents,

with

the

the

the

gods.

the

a

go

you

to the

clubs,

if

divine

to

other

a

which

of

the

mana

island

treat man

and

stranger death

he

the in

the

sight

whether

Tongan

as

country

On rapidly

words,

see

people

super­

virtue,

knew

which

other

bows

man.

large

little

told why

The

and

boy

and

dis­

the his

the

the

437

the

of

of

of of 438 AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST [N. s., 23, 1921 COLL'OCOTT] THE SUPERNATURAL IN TONGA 439

was startled to see that he had wings. This last touch is probably on the progress of the contest with the promptness and certainty of a due to the influence of the Bible. Like a wise soothsayer this visitant, wireless installation and had the melancholy duty of informing them though so precise with regard to months, allowed himself latitude in. of the defeat of their own champion. His best r~memberedexploit years. In September, 1912, there was a volcanic outburst in Nina was that of telling a chief the time at which· a pet bird, which had Fooll, though not very serious and unattended by loss of life. This flown away and was many days overdue, would return. Not content doubtless is a suitable event to carry the responsibility of the doleful . with the bald statement as to the day and time at which the chief vaticination regarding the month of September. would again see his bird he gave a.detailed itinerary of the home­ ward flight. DIVINATION A rather peculiar idea belonging to the same range 6f conceptions

The fact that supernatural forces and beings manifest themselve~ is .seen in the power asserted to have been possessed by the chief Loau through material agencies would invest with importance the office of of Haamea in Tongatabu of knowing everything that was going on those who were skilled in reading the signs. One Tongan stated that everywhere. Loau occupies a unique place in Tongan history. fo~ those who had no god to apply to had recourse to a diviner (tongafij;) , though he is undoubtedly a historical personage and is asserted to adding the interesting detail that there was arttspication by examina­ have left a deep and enduring mark on Tongan polity, no place is tion of the blood of animals. Another said that he thought that each assigned him in any 'of the known chiefly families. He came none god had his own diviner, but the most tnlstworthy statements show knows whenc~and departed none knows whither. His name is con­ no evidence of a class of diviners attached to the gods apart from the nected with the small district called Haamea near Nukualofa, but the priests-. A certain cowrie shell god used to give indications of his spot within Haamea on which he lived is named Maananga, and it is will by movements, as by standing up on end. War _clubs, presum-. said that quietly at home at Maananga he knew all that was going on ably those kept in the temples, were consulted on the expediency of elsewhere, whence the-word toka-i-maananga (known in Maananga) going to war; If the club shook that ~asthe god giving his vote for is used of omniscience, and is so used today in Christian worship. war, but if it remained still that was a declaration against the opening In passing it may be noted that the Tongans assert that there have of hostilities. Whilst, however, the interpretation of the will of the been navigators so skilful that they 'could tell their whereabouts when gods was the function of the priests, there were diviners (tongafiji) out of sight of land by dipping their hands into the sea and scooping who, without being priests or being attached in any special way to a up a little of the water. Looking at the sample of ocean the gifted particular god, were able to see what was distant in time and space. mariner would say" This is the sea of Vavau," "of Tongatabu," and The word kikite which is used of divination anJ foretelling seems to so forth, and thus get his bearings. The last man who possessed contain the same root as the word kite which is used of the appear­ this power has not been dead many years. ance of anything at a distance, particularly of land showing up when The old story of Muni of the Torn Eye relates that Bunga (Coral). one is out at sea. I have not been able to discover that these diviners a chief in the east of Tongatabn, had a white flying-fox which he were reputed to be inspired by any god, bnt they seem merely to have used for divination. When Muni, whose legendary exploits are seen and declared things by some inward light of their own. A strongly reminiscent of those of the god Maui, visited with hostile rather circumstantial account is preserved of a famous soothsayer intent the home of Bunga the latter was out at sea fishing. His named Hema who knew from the island of Eua the progress of a sin­ flying-fox at once flew out to him, and Bunga, suspecting that matters gle-sticks match in Tongatabu in which a local champion was opposed of grave import were afoot, set himself a sign whereby he should by a mighty fighter from Eua. Hema kept the Eua people posted know by the part of the boat on which the creature settled whether 440

had was the afterwards great visit Bunga him. sovereign Introduction away. being he to use offices ter's is of it cup the with or instead some from senting a tabu Captain by is

from

pewter

is

rendered

the

correct.

it

would garments some Old

Augury

at omen

to

inconvenience

been

defeated

stated

vessel,

as

by the says,

kava his

such bowl,

Tongatabu here Among the

convict

of

returned

Bunga

used

travelers

the of

contact

Europeans.

Cook." taboo, Ttli

dish

ravished

chief were

time authority substitute

plants

thing), H that

his

to was

as

as

was Ttli of

It An

to

of

though of Tonga.

the persons for

his

them

elsewhere

feet. pursued

of should an

because

remove the

good justice

with to used

the presented Tooitonga, Tonga

elderly

which mention

to sovereign

representative."

this

Probably

Mariner's

informal arising shore belonging

AMERICAN

(success

king,

was

. . .

Haapai,

not for Voyage

the

by

or

In

accused The

purpose,

in I "

and

no the

had Muni,

in

with the a evil. chief

Ttli slain. the Mr.

dining

was f

a

any

a

from

wooden chief

first by

other

anyone

tabu

viceroy."

when

mark in

the

sort stood

wooden there

sovereigns residence

to

bowl

which

Tonga's

of all

him

Mariner's

case highly of

the who

but ANTHROPOLOGIST

The

which

native

Tooitonga,

is with account his

from

possible

the was

crimes; affairs

present

near

0

equal with

is

bowl, feats "which is

in

be

f

Later

portent

seems was absence;

bowl

Duff

no

tabooed gratified

Captain often the

person dish

the Christian those

in

fairly This

his

a

of

to

besides of

time,

-speed other

still of probably

and Tonga, was

pewter

011 legendary

contest

used

was

at him in Tongataboo house

is

had

love,

resorted

who was

pewter

the

in

easy a the during

heathen,

paid

applied by

that

Cook referring

Tooitonga by

chief

to the

given consecrated in

teachers

for

before

the· bowl

had of

and touching plate,

same as torn

find

which rank;

the the

to

during

time same

plate' on

divination.

bad

in

removal hero), his

to

can

come

to avoid Mariner to

up same presents that or

set homage

those board

which

as sustained

much

[N.

his to absence and and, to Introduction

on tidings,

followed

and

relieve was

dish always his

the

themselves a

his

s.,

in

Tasman's have

their

that bowl incurring father

and

divining. touched,

to of

absence

of

the carried

23, he contact

as

person still harem speaks

which

repre­

made

avoid

..

war,

long

tabu The

'1921

two said

it and had way

him

lat­ left

the

(or

he

by

in

is

COLLOCOTT]

as time tianity they missed, was were the augury. of

the courage wounded effect of position himself. ing

tress, sick disgusting few organs ing friend. ened the tions in out cal

a

his'

this

Tonga

Mariner

unknown,

Something control

But

Sea),

former fight his that

sign

one when

an

further would

with

to of begged

of victorious

and

has

by

and given sufferings.

old

and

when

the

be illness, day' On

that his

If

in his

The

Taufaahau him. but are virtue

over already

example heathenism

term

native, know

thereupon front

effective he

relates skill.

word

notes own

one

to

followers sailing.

particularly

magic if

hangatamaki

again if

has

event

missed,

be

his

covers they career,

is

The

of

occasion his

THE

might

he

that hangatamaki,

may, allowed contained been been

unable

fellows. that

which

there

In

of

at

owed showed aim

met by

ancient

(King

SUPERNATURAL

threw He

a

they the

a

my should

rest declared

be sympathetic

said mentioned.

the

or

depriving

shark

large

as

naturally

went a

a whilst any

to seized

his

added. shark

WITCHCRAFT

friend's

of

and certain

man was spinning to

George

had

in

of

into that

The

drink Ttli

victories the

longer the

know

range Mr. came

true

which magic

fakaloua.kau. on

a

can

he to

was

his

Tonga, usual the

he

fate

protection

common

follows man

his him

the

A Murley's

I)

case

expect

was

magic then

alongside be

whether of owed

of

spear

to sea the

is non-malevolent

when

was

vomit of

eve

IN

to terms

sea-sick.

once wearing

a

disorders, endure

the

very at

Kauulufonua,

two god

sick

it

the

coconut

TONGA

man's

hesitating

of

his

was opposition.

sea

and method

was

mere speaking

manuscript. as

of

and applied

Taufa-tahi god, native freely battle persons. his

the

An

successes

and

a

the

made related a

a

effort

just

sure

prowess

suggestion

god. for

and

principally boat

ragged but,

excellent

exceedingly of that sight

used

Christians

between

to

of

a

but

way

his

all

to interrogating observing

if

in

in

the

to

An

During shark.

in

If

tabu, to

(Taufa of

anmagi­ gain in

behind,

of

loin-cloth extremely throw the

He which

were of

the

me

black

his he

instance

descrip­

note

his

threat­

all Chris­

check­

of

points midst

but

com­

were

by

who

own

sea­

dis­ 44

He the

the

the

an the he

art

its of

on to

1 a a 44

boil

with specialize anyone, his has example, and the the

and cure god for The

practised described tim a

temporaneously also whom fakalouakau bury get in amples a come of

tamaki out; by of

further

2

leaf."

piece

the property art. a In

the the stabbing medicine the

and hangs the

had has

something

the practice

these met

consideration.

and

it.

in

1917

it

victim. Fiji

person even of reputation medical

entirely already

is

ulcer request

been

information,

to

The

contact in

is

his

the

on

It

As

by

them

young

punitive

kept

put

the desired

group

seems his a he

him the

by of basket own

the

man the

on

practitioner

sort;

man

he will

which

cure

foot-prints. a

been practitioner

putting

is about that

with a One owner,

from

with

a term

leaf buried

by

tab9

end.

AMERICAN

native

that wished

consulted of that

likewise

visit

visitations, be to

died that

in

of

a

this

mentioned. When

regarding shoot man the

being

such has

the

Fiji. afflicted which operate, fakalouakau, man

on

there

a different

dare

a to

object

One

further

in

medicine year

of

death

his plantation

premises then to

been

Fiji,

in

and a

of

it

a To%cra together

able

that

to

the

specializes, one

A He

injure. method plantation, fragment

is

discussing

source

ANTHROPOLOGIST

or

Fiji. with

which

rots e.g.,

break

makes Fijian

chew

of desired

the in and

diseases. Tongan

there

said may two to

country.

man

the

close as

the

a it

that nail-parings,

cure black

had under

go

In it,

the

of

of previously he sympathetic

that

is

cause It after

the

are

up

Tongan

special of to

muttering and (or

this

who desired

periL practising medicine is will he

is these contact been tabu

_some

remove

little

art result

leaf

different in

the "by Should

dangerous Report drinking woman) will

take

foot

case

be

Fiji again

and

put amongst

hangatamaki

protection

matters after

sort

the bundles

a This

go quite

the to

of

trouble with and down

the

the

leaf," to disease

the

touch

a under

a

protect. fakalouakau

to _

hath maleficent

individuals the is

of. unfortunate

.man

cause man a

assist

it

tabu

wrap

witchcraft man

while

ready a

coconut the

for alone

the [N.

has

hangatamaki

his drew

of black

person anything

Or

in

it the

desire.

will would of

s.,

the

person the

packages.

anyone him added

medicine

that

neighbors been it

H an

in

the

to

.23,

a spell

able Should

making

his

up

owner

appear hanga­ which

art

Fijian

should

enemy

shark

do-­ with name

who who

1921 is

con­

was

take for vic­

spat

and

on

ex­

the

to on

as of

to

to

COLLOCOTT]

been split it emanation is a

letter Pt. perhaps

chief ing was father remarkable The that the visitors. diabolic and lates

the ends. ance ing. to rather the by narrator diagnosis their

sinister·

to

inclined

An

I,

Among the The in

recommendations Tongans.

tracing a work

most drunk

it is

whose

devil as-

that from

p.

that

lives. had thousand

size

The

charged fifty interesting open

than

sick,

to

They

belief

462)

visit.

reputation

zealous . added

spells in the A to rather gets given from from

things:

he would the

fact the

years

supernatural of

~a

sometimes

before

Fiji suppose man,

cause written

form

confession in will

years stolen Rev. company

rather

against A

that

a There

his

himself on

.demonic

that old.

than

THE

be

Christians, there pea

L

form

comparison

partly

die

of

the

mother

a they for

That

S. old.

throwing.

a

goods.

these to that"amongst

He magical from this,

more

detective great as SUPERNATURAL

is

W.

the

should

drinker; are

there

by preeminence

of

a

which

sometimes

power

a was

of the

possession to

of

fowl's

and

Brooks

mischievous a

hysteria prescriptions

credit,

those possessed Bue,

than find

POSSESSION impotency.

where

and

hatchet devil Tongan

covered was

Nor

healing.

it

with the

be

entered

corps thus

but for

egg. Fiji,

noted his away.

who

one

was reckoned age

however, to

is

the

they

console

is

Tongan

still before the

by

with due in

their the

acquired

and

men in

of On Abraham,

as d'e1ite, in are the

for Tongans the

pranks IN

opening at

medicine

obtains Angust,

the may

of Methodist

An they among particular Their

remarkable

questioning

cause,

partly possessed

drinking medical

the TONGA

the and

black

the

their

an

man,

to'be

belief

ullsplit

give of obtain

is child's

exemplary

of

patient

practice women

indication a

more

and

it

primitive

the

art.

used 1865: of infalIible

I man

own

these

strange-look."1ng

entered up

practical

practice is made

Magazine

associated

to excrescences,

Fijian it

the by Fijians

nut birth; treatment.

furnished

or one

who

with

and was for

escape.

were

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various is

simple-minded

less

out

which

goodness

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clairvoyant of men:

benevolent against

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One

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man, 443

use

the

The two

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all

he

in a

of

a 444 AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST [N. S., 23, 1921

CONCLUSION However great a wanderer a man may have been during his life­ time it is amongst his own kin that he wishes to sleep his last sleep. The gods of a country not his own would resent his being laid in A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE SO-CALLED their soil and would attempt to drive him away. The unlucky e-xile, "BANNERSTONES" therefore, would appear to his relatives in dreams and upbraid them for their unkind behavior in leaving him to the fury of such persecu­ By JOHN LEONARD BAER tions, and would probably soon worry them into making the desired transference of his ashes. It can be very rarely, however, that the FOR the past half century American archaeologists have been deceased is driven to these desperate measures, as the Tongan ob­ amazed at the beauty and puzzled over the use of certain prob­ serves the most scrupulous Care in the disposal of his dead. There lematical forms left by primitive men about their camp sites is a curious story of oue who left his body and visited Bulotu (Para­ and buried with their dead in eastern North America. From Ontario dise, Hades, Abode of Hikuleo). He was absent some time, and on to Florida, from Maine to the Mississippi Valley, have been found returning to the spot where he had left his body found that his hundreds of beautifully wrought and highly polished pierced objects friends, despairing of his ever again animating it, had buried it. of stone somewhat resembling the drilled stone axes of the Old Since then he has wandered a discarnate spirit, known as a god in World. Here, l}owever, these artifacts are usually of too soft a Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa under the respective names of Fehuluni, material and of too delicate workmanship to be weapons, tools, or Tuihaatala, and Maso; and with. this disembodied vagrant we shall implements of practical use. The carefully selected material, the for the present leave the subject. elegant and symmetrical shape, and the high polish of these relics Some acknowledgments of indebtedness have been already made have led many to believe that their use was of a ceremonial nature. in the text, but in closing these notes I desire to acknowledge my Many fanciful names such as bannerstones, ceremonial axes, special obligations to myfriend and colleague the Rev. John Havea, maces, butterfly stones, thunder-bird emblems, totems, whale-tail Head Master of the Tubou College in Nukualofa, whose intelligent emblems, baton or sceptre heads, equipoise stones, and mesh gauges, interest in all that concerns his race, and courteous patience in trying have been applied to these mysterious relics. The name bannerstone, to make it intelligible to the foreigner, have equally made me his applied by Dr. C. C. Abbott, is the one most generally accepted be­ debtor. cause of its priority and because of the fact that most of the stones

TUBOU COLLEGE, seem to have been Shaped and drilled for mounting upon handles so NUKUALOFA, TONGA. as to be carried during ceremonies as standards or banners. In support of this name, is the discovery of a cache of three bannerstones all mounted upon engraved stone handles about a foot in length. They were plowed up in a field near Knap of Reeds, Granville Co., N. c., in the year 1908. One of them (fig. 74, a) has been on exhibition in the North Carolina historical collection at Raleigh, N. C., for a number of years and was discovered by Mr.

W. E. Myer who kindly brought the knowledge to the write~'satten­ tion. He described this interesting find as follows: 29 445