Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-07-06

L
them to starve to death.
Their religion is such as might be
expected among a people in their
condition. Their place of worship
is a rudely constructed building, or
hut, about fifty feet long and thirty
feet wide. In the center. suspended
from the roof, is sort OF altar, into
which they suppose their deity
comes to hold converse with the
priest. Rudely carved images are
placed in different parts Of the build
ing, and are supposed to personate
their divinity.
As nearly as could be ascertained
by us, they supposed that the object
of their worship was of like passions
with themselves, capricious and
revengeful. During the time we
were with them, they attributed to
his displeasure their want Of success
in taking fish as they had done in
former times, and the unfruitfulness
Of their bread-fruit and cocoa trees.
Their religious ceremonies are
singular. In the commencement
the priest walks round the altar and
takes from it mat, devoted to the
purpose, which is laid upon the
ground. He then seats himselfupon
It, and begins to hoot, in the mean
time throwing himself into variety
of attitudes, for the purpose of call
ing down the divinity into the altar,
At intervals the congregation sing,
but Immediately stop when the
priest breaks out in his devotions.
BY the side Of the altar is always
placed IL large bowl, and six cocoa
nuts. After the incantation is gone
through and the divinity is sup
posed to be present, the bowl is
turned up and four of the nuts are
broken and put in it, two being re-
served for the exclusive use of a
priest by them also called "yarries".
As soon as the nuts are broken, one
of the company begins to shout,
and, rushing to the center, seiZes
the bowl, and drinks of the milk of
the nut, generally spilling a greater
part of it upon the ground. After
this a few pieces are thrown to the
images, and the remainder are gen
orally eaten by the priests. This
closes the ceremony, after which
they indulge in any recreation that
chances to please them best
While we were on the island sew
eral earthquakes happened, and
some of them pretty severe. On
those occasions the natives We're
much terrified; they would not let
their children speak word; and
they said among themselves. Var
-ris uiadl- il coming and Tohee lthe
were also very much alarmed at
thunder and lightning; and use to
say at such times, Yarris tee tree,
God is talking. do not know how
they would be affected by an eclipse,
as none happened, that | noticed,
while we remained there.
| will here mention some other
things in respect 10 their customs
ana usageS, as they now occur to me.
Their implements of war are spears
and clubs; they have no bows and
arrows. Their spears are made of
the wood OF the cocoanut tres; the /
points of them are set with rows of
sharks teeth; and, being ut the same |
lime very heavy and from ten to
twenty feet long, are formidable
weapons. Their canoes are made of
logs which drift to their island from
other places, there being no trees on
I large enough for that purpose.
hey are followed out with great
abor, and are of very clumsy work.
nanship; TO prevent their overset-
ing, they are fitted up with outrig-
,ers, like those of the Pelew island. II
rs They kindle their fires, as they
Informed me, 10y rubbing two pieces
4 wood together, as is common IN
he islands of the Pacific ocean; and {
hey cook their turtle or other meat. {
when they are SO fortunate as To
aveany; as well as their vegetables, +
covering them with heated stones. /
should state, however that I
uring the whole time we staid :,
mong them, fire was always pre-. n
rived in some part of the island. q
that there was no necessity for !,
lndling IL IN the manner here
entioned. Like other savage pSo.
@, they reckon time 10y moons. / n
uld not learn that they ever reck- n
led by any other period, except. ~
deed, when speaking of two or n.
nee days. They take pride In IL
cir hair, aud are particularly care u
about il, washing and cleansing "
almost every day. They do not
ior 1t, however, rs the natives Of r..
ne islands are said 10 do; bur thev -.