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from notes archived at Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawai'i |
Category: | Religion | Topic: | Spirit houses (1) | Consultant: | ||
In each village there is a spirit house where oracles were pronounced from the 'aitu. Men and women alike pronounced oracles. These were called toak'aitu. They answered the cause of sicknesses which occurred from curses etc. The house was just like any other but had a chamber in it for oracle telling. | ||||||
Category: | Religion | Topic: | Spirit houses (2) | Consultant: | ||
In Losa there was a house called Risusu which was a su'ura, or the house in which the sau stayed when he was in Losa. There was another house called Riho'i where the people of Losa prayed to Tagroa for rain or sun, or relief from storms and hurricanes, etc. There was a daughter born to Irava in Savlei, and the 'aitu said to name her Ufimalumalu, and that during her life there would be no more hurricanes in Rotuma. So far the prophecy has been true. | ||||||
Category: | Religion | Topic: | Spirit houses (3) | Consultant: | ||
The tu'ura had a house called ri fak 'aitu to which he went with those who wished to hear from the gods. These seances were held in the ri fak 'aitu, but the tu'ura did not live there. This was at least so in Malhaha where there was one if not two spirit houses. The one for which Tavai gave three names was the one to which Ravak came and which was called by Varumua ri fak aitu. In the Malhaha houses of tu'ura there was kept a war stick = 'ai peluga, wrapped in leaves, fak moro. This war club was hung in the house and when the leaves began to fall off, the tu'ura knew that war was imminent. | ||||||
Category: | Religion | Topic: | Spirit houses (4) | Consultant: | |
Tagaroa and Garagsau were worshipped in a special spirit house, called a ri susu, or sewn house, in Losa. Here people prayed for plenty of food and fish. They prayed for an i'a fo'a, which is the appearance of a tremendous school of fish which are numerous enough to supply the island for weeks. These sudden and infrequent supplies of fish are attributed to the gods, and the chief who receives the first fruit from such a catch is considered the owner of the i'a fo'a. |
i'a = fish | ||||
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