The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-22

watch. With this weapon he endeavors to wound
all who attempt to pass him. Those who are
wounded dare not present themselves to Ndengei,
and are obliged 10 wander about IN the mountains.
Whether the spirit be wounded or not, depends not
upon the conduct in life, but they ascribe an escape
from the blow wholly to good luck.
Stories are prevalent OF persons who have sue
ceeded in passing the monster without injury. One
of these, which was told me BY white pilot, will
suffice to show the character Of this superstition
A powerful chief, who had died, and been inter-
red with all due ceremony, finding that ne had to
the Moturiki Channel, loaded his gum. which had
been buried with him, and prepared for the encoun
ter. The giant seeing the danger that threatened
him., was on the look out to dodge the ball, which
he did when the piece was discharged; OF this the
chief took advantage to rush by him before he could
recover himself reached the judgment seat OF Nden-
gel, and now enjoys celestial happiness!
Besides the entire form of a serpent, Ndengei is
sometimes represented as having only the head and
half the body of the figure of that reptile, while the
remaining portion Of his form is stone, significant
of eternal duration.
but many assert that he has been seen by mortals.
Thus, he is reported to have appeared under the
form of man, dressed in masl white tapa), after
the fashion Of the natives on the beach, near Ragi-
ragi. Thence he proceeded to Mbenga, where, al
though it did not please him. on account Of its rocky
shores, he made himself manifest, and thence went
to Kantavu. Not liking the latter place, ne went to
Rewa, where he took up his abode. Here ne was
whom, after time, he consented to resign this Local
lty condition of receiving the choicest parts OF
all kinds of food, the heads of the turtle and pig,
which are still held sacred. Under this agreement,
resided ever since, and by him verata is believed to
have been rendered lmpregnabe
Next in rank, in their mythology, stand two sons
of Ndcngei, Tokairambe and Tul Lakemba.t These
act as medators between their father and inferior
spirits. They are said to be stationed, in the form
Of men, at the door of their fathers cabin, where
they receive and transmit to him the prayers and
applications OF departed souls.
The grandchildren OF Ndengei are third IN rank
They are innumerabe, and each has peculiar duty
10 perform, Of which the most usual Is that OF pre-
siding over islands and districts.
:. A fourth class is supposed TO De made up OF more
distant relatives OF Ndengei. These preside over
separate tribes by whose priests they are consulted
They have no jurisdiction beyond their own tribe,
and possess no power but hat is deputcd to them
by superior deitics.
lieve in malicious and mschievous gods. These re-
side in their Hades which they call Mbulu (under-
meath the worldly There reigns a cruel tyrant,
with grim aspect, whom they name Lothia. Sa,
muialo destroyer of souls) is his colleague, and
sits on the brink of huge fiery cavern, into which
he precipitates departed spirits.
These notions, although the most prevalent, are
not universal. Thus the god of Muthuata is called
Radinadina He is considered as the son Of
Ndengci. Here also Rokora, the god Of carpenters,
is held in honor; and they worship also Rokavona,
the god Of fishermen.
The people of Lakemba believe that departed
souls proceed to Namukaliwu, a place in the vi
cinty Of the sea- Here they for time exc rcise
the same employments as when in this life, after
which they die again, and go to Mbulu, where they
arc met by Samuialo. This deity is empowered to
seize and hurl into the fiery gulf all those whom he
disikes On Kantavu they admit OF no god appoint
ed TO receive departed souls but suppose that these
90 down into the sea, where they are examined by
the great spirit, who retains those he likes, and
sends back the others to their native island to dwell
among their friends Another belief is, that the
departed spirit goes before the god Taseta, who,
il approaches, darts spear at 1t. II the spirit ex-
the god, but il it advances with courage, IT Is re-
ceived with favor. ts. NE4 a..u.
On vanua-levu il is believed that the souls Of their
deceased friends 60 to Dimba-dimba, point OF