“Standing in the presence of a chief is not allowed. All who move about the house in which he is, creep, or, if on their feet, advance bent as in an act of obeisance.”
In drinking toasts and wishing, the expression often is for a “puaka loloa,”—a long pig,—meaning a human body, to be eaten.
The Fijians reverence certain stones as shrines of the gods. Offerings of food are sometimes made at these. (They resemble the pohaku a Kane in Hawaii).
In Fiji, “sika” means “to appear” and is used chiefly of supernatural beings. (Does the Hawaiian hika in the name of Kane, “Hika-poloa,” connect or find its explanation in the former?)
Fijian traditions mention mankind springing from two eggs laid by a small hawk and hatched by Ndengei, their principal god. They refer to a flood from which eight people were saved in a canoe. They also mention a big tower built for the purpose of ascertaining if the moon was inhabited, but the foundations gave way and the workmen were scattered all over Fiji. They refer to a woman of Yaro, named Kerukeru, who was very good and whom the gods removed from this world alive on consideration of her high character.
NEW ZEALAND.[3]
The New Zealanders derive themselves from Hawaiki, either the Samoan, Sawaii, or the Tongan, Habai.
One tradition has it that they descend from two brothers: Maui-mua and Maui-potiki; that the elder, Maui-mua, killed his younger brother and ate him, whence the custom of cannibalism among them.
Another tradition says that Maui was driven from his native land, and, embarking [[260]]with his company, and guided by the god of thunder, Tauraki, arrived at, and settled on the banks of the river Churaki.