Зображення сторінки
PDF
ePub
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

their mistresses by carrying bachelors' buttons (the flower of the Lychnis kind so called) in their pockets. They judged of their good or bad success by their growing or not growing there."-Note to Shakespeare. BOSWELL'S, vol. 8, p. 114.

Savage Superstitions.

[Earthquakes at Tongataboo.]

"Ar Tongataboo they account for their frequent earthquakes, by supposing the island rests upon the shoulders of a very powerful deity called Mowee, who has supported it for such a length of time as exceeds their conceptions. This heavy burden endeavours, but in vain, to shake it off; often exhausts his patience, and then he which, however, never fails to excite a horrid outcry over the whole country, that lasts for some time after the shock is over, and we have sometimes seen them endeavour to quell his discontent and reduce him to good behaviour, by beating the ground with large sticks.-Tongaloer, the god of the sky, and Fenoulonga, of the rain, they suppose to be males. Besides these, they have a great many others of both sexes, over earth, sea, and sky, each acting in their proper sphere, and sometimes counteracting one another, according as interest or inclination leads them. They also acknowledge the existence of a great number of strange gods, calling them by the general name of Fyga, among whom they rank ours as the greatest; and when they think it will answer their purpose, they will readily acknowledge him as far wiser, and in every respect better than theirs, having taught us to make so much better ships, tools, cloth, &c. than they have ever been able to do. Besides these, they imagine every individual to be under the power and control of a spirit peculiar to himself, which they call Odooa, who interests himself in all their concerns, but is little regarded till angry, when they think he inflicts upon them all the deadly disorders to which they are sub

ject; and then, to appease him, the relations and other connections of the afflicted person, especially if he be a chief, run into all the inhuman practices of cutting off their little fingers, beating their faces, and tabooing themselves from certain kinds of food."

"A YOUNG Woman gave us an affecting account of the fate of one of Moomōoe's

sons.

The youth, it seems, lived at some distance from Noogollifva, where the father lies sick, and by order of whom he was sent for, under pretence of having his little fingers cut off, a custom common here, and done with a view to appease the anger of the Odooa, that the sick person may recover, but in fact that he might be strangled. Upon the arrival of Colelallo, he was saluted in a cordial manner by his elder brother, Toogahowe, and soon after went to see his father, whose attendants seized upon him with a view to strangle him instantly; when he, guessing their intention, said, if they would use gentler means he would submit to his father's will; but they continuing their violence, he by a great exertion beat them off. Three feejee men were then called, and these being joined by a sister of the unfortunate Colelallo, they accomplished his death."-Missionary Voyage. The Egyptians had this custom also. Are not all sacrifices vicarious?

"THEY believe the immortality of the soul, which at death, they say, is immediately conveyed in a very large fast sailing canoe to a distant country called Doobludha, which they describe as resembling the Mahometan Paradise. They call the god of this region of pleasure Higgolayo, and esteem him as the greatest and most powerful of all others, the rest being no better than servants to him."-Ibid.

are held supreme. Tāne, the Father; Oromattow, the Son; Taroa, the Bird, the Spirit. This stinks of the Methodist. Their other greater gods they call Fwhanow-po, born of night. Among these are the names Orohho, Oehawhow, Tamma, Toaheite, Vaveah. Each family has its Tee, or guardian spirit; he is supposed to be one of their departed relatives, who for his superior excellencies has been exalted to an Eatooa. They suppose this spirit can inflict sickness or remove it; and preserve them from a malignant deity also called Tee, who has no power but upon earth, and is always employed in mischief.

When the spirit departs from the body, they have a notion it is swallowed by the Eatōoa bird, who frequents their morais, and passes through him, in order to be purified, and be united to the Deity.-Ibid.

wwwwww

"In the beginning, Tane took Tarōa and begat Avye freshwater, Atye the sea, Awa the water-spout, Matãi the wind, Arye the sky, and Po the night, then Mahanna the sun, in the shape of a man called Oerōa Tabōoa. He had by Townoo the thirteen months. Then she returned to earth, and Oerōa embraced a rock called Poppoharra Harreha, which conceived a son named Tetooboo-amata-hatoo, after which the rock returned to its original state, and the father of the months himself died, and went to dust. The son he left embraced the sand of the sea, which conceived the brother and sister Tee and Opeera; then he also returned to earth. Tee and Opeera married; she fell sick at last, and requested her husband to heal her; she would in his illness do the same for him; and thus they should both live for ever. But Tee let her die, and married her and his daughter, OheeraReene-Moonoa, Their children peopled the earth."-Ibid.

www.

OTAHEITE. The general name for Deity in all its ramifications is Eatooa. Three

"THEY believe the stars are the children of the sun and moon. When the sun and

moon are eclipsed, they suppose them in the act of copulation. When a star shoots, it is the Eatooa. They put great confidence in dreams, and suppose in sleep the soul leaves the body under the care of the guardian angel, and moves at large through the region of spirits. Thus they say, my soul was such a night in such a place, and saw such a spirit. When a person dies, they say his soul is harre Po, gone to the night." -Ibid.

“THEY entertain a high idea of the power of spirits. In the beautiful and romantic view of Taloo harbour, the remarkable

peaked mountain is said to be but a part of the original one. Some spirits from Ulietea

had broken off the other half, and were transporting it down the bay in order to carry it away with them, but being overtaken by the break of day, they were obliged to drop it near the mouth of the harbour, where it now stands conspicuous as a rock, -for these spirits walk and work by night." -Ibid.

[Notions in the Kingdom of Benin.] "LES habitans du Royaume de Benin, en Afrique, reconnoissent un Dieu qui recompense ou punit, selon le bien ou le mal qu'on a fait. Ils croyent que l'ombre du corps est un être réel, qui nous accompagne sans cesse, qui se rend à son gré visible ou invisible, et par qui Dieu est instruit, à notre mort, de nos bonnes et de nos mauvaises actions."-SAINTFOIX.

[Maldive Ingenuity.]

THE inhabitants of the Maldives-" de l'estoupe du Cocos ils font des chemises entieres avec les manches et les quartiers, d'un mesme tissu, aussi-bien que des demi-vestes." -Anciennes Relations.

[blocks in formation]

The first contains two articles, called Ischetam and Bourtam. Ischetam comprehends all actions done in religious ceremonies; but the building of temples, choultrie,' digging tanks, planting rows of trees, &c. all such good works are called Bourtam. Those who practise them will die at the time that the sun advances towards the south, and the night of a day when the moon is in her second quarter. After their death they will find themselves in the world of the moon, where they will be happy according to their deserts.

“The soul in the state of Nivarty burns with the fire of wisdom. Its power annihilates the action of the senses, and this soul enters into the immensity of the universal being. All men in the state of Nivarty will die at the time that the sun takes his course towards the north, and the morning of the day when the moon is in the first quarter. Raised by the sunbeams, the soul will go to the paradise of Brahma, called Satialogam, where it will enjoy those inexpressible delights possessed by the gods. The matter of which it is composed becomes subtile, and is changed into an universal body, and the faculty of this casual body is destroyed by the wisdom of the soul. From this delightful place it goes to the Sorgon; from whence the followers of Vichenou pass into the Vaicondon, and the followers of Eswara into the Cailason."

"DEVENDREN is king of the Deverkels or demigods. The Sorgon is his paradise. He supports the east part of the universe. He is represented covered with eyes, with four arms, holding a hook, a coulichou, and mounted on a white elephant. Devendren had many wars to sustain against the giants, enemies of the gods. Alternately conqueror and conquered, he has at several times been driven out of the Sorgon; and it was only by the protection of Brahma, Vichenou,

The Choultry or Madan, is a repository of stone, covered with a vault, adorned on all sides with sculpture, and built in temples to shew the divinity.

and Eswara, that he at last destroyed the giants, and remained peaceable possessor of the Sorgon.

"Aguini, god of fire, second of the Deverkels. He supports the south-east part of the universe, and is represented with four arms, holding in two a crit; his head surrounded with flames, and mounted on a

ram.

"Yamen, god of death, and king of hell, governs the south, a terrible figure holding a staff and mounted on a buffalo.

"Niroudi, king of the demons, and bad genii, supports the south-west. He is carried on a giant's shoulders, and holds a sabre

"Varounin, god of the sea, supports the west, he rides a crocodile with a whip.

"Vayou, god of the wind, supports the north-west. His weapon a sabre, his beast an antelope.

[blocks in formation]

"CHOURIEN, Sandrien, Anguaraguen, Bouda, Barasouadi, Soura, and Sani, are the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn, demigods as well as planets; each presiding over one day of the week. Sani is the god who punishes men during their life-time, he approaches only to hurt them. The Hindoos fear him much, and address prayers to him. He is blue, quadrimane, and rides a raven. Two serpents form a circle about him.”

[blocks in formation]

number. Perhaps, and probably the pro- | that they get near those who are praying,

[blocks in formation]

"THE Calis and Poudaris are tutelary divinities, protectresses of cities. Each city has its own. They delight in blood, and some of them in human sacrifice. They are not immortal, of giant stature, manyarmed, their heads surrounded with flames. Several fierce animals are also placed under their feet."

and endeavour to confound them; that they may omit some of the ceremonies prescribed by their ritual. It is by this means, and not by their own works, that they can find grace before the Lord. When they have collected a sufficient quantity of prayers, they are permitted to change their nature; and then from wandering unfortunate genii they become souls, passing into the bodies of men, and by this change enjoying the happiness promised to the latter. In order to prevent such surprise is the reason that the Indians, in beginning the divine service, repeat a prayer, and fling water three times over the left shoulder, which is the only part where the genii can attack them."

"THEY believe also in spirits, attributing the same qualities to them which we give to hobgoblins. They name them Mouni, or Cateri, or Pichache. They have no body, but take what form they please. It is particularly during the night-time that they roam to hurt mankind, endea"Or the giants, or bad genii, are five vouring to lead astray travellers to preci

tribes.

"1. Achourers, of whom some have governed the world, a favour they obtained by their penances.

"2. Rachadars, who have often subjected the world under the government of some of their kings. But these monarchs, abusing the power given them by the greater gods, were punished by Vichenou and Eswara.

"3. Bouders, or Boudons, attendants and guards of Eswara.

"4. Caleguejers. The most powerful race of giants. They inhabit the Padalon.

"5. Guingerers, endowed with extraordinary strength. They serve the Achourers as soldiers, and inhabit also the Padalon.

[ocr errors][merged small]

pices, wells, and rivers; transforming themselves into Will-o'-the-wisps, houses, men, or animals, to conceal the danger into which they are conducting the traveller. To make them propitious, the Indians erect colossal statues to their honour, and pray to them."

"THE wicked will be flung into hell, a place beneath the earth, near the south, called Padalam. Rivers of fire, horrible monsters, destructive arms, infectious insects, and all sorts of evils are concentered in this terrible corner. After the death of these unfortunate people, the Emaguinguilliers, the giant servants of Yamen drag them, tied and bound with cords; they are beat, whipt, and trod under foot; they walk on points of iron; their bodies shall be picked by crows, and gnawn by dogs; and they shall be flung into a burning river. It is not till after these cruelties have been exercised upon them that the ministers of

« НазадПродовжити »