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from notes archived at Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawai'i |
Category: | Religion | Topic: | Spirit types (1) | Consultant: | F. Gibson & Marekava | |
The sur'aitu were women who died in childbirth. They travelled in a band called the la'oga. The surne'aitu [this time with -ne-] were 'atua which were not eaten in 'oroi. The tupu'a were stationary spirits, residing in permanent things like rocks and wells. Tu'ura was a man who was constantly or regularly visited by an 'atua. Sur'atua is a state of being possessed by an 'atua. |
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Category: | Religion | Topic: | Spirit types (2) | Consultant: | |
Sa'aitu = 'aitu that travelled over the island 'Aitu suru = the spirit in living man. | suru = to enter; hence 'aitu suru (or sur'aitu) = the entry of a spirit into a living person | ||||
Category: | Religion | Topic: | Spirit types (3) | Consultant: | ||
Mavai was a god that came from the soul or spirit of a miscarriage. "The most powerful of gods in Rotuma come from the small bits and blood that come when a child is born before its date." The souls then of prematurely born children who die, and miscarriages, are the most potent spirits in the Rotuman supernatural. Although he did not say these were 'aitu or tupu'a or 'atua, Mavai he called a god. |
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Category: | Religion | Topic: | Spirit types (4) | Consultant: | ||
Sur'aitu: If such a spirit enters a man, this man acts, moves and talks like the man or woman who once owned this spirit. (Said also to be the souls of dead pregnant women.) Tuak'aitu = A living man who prophecies the result of plans made by others. Consulted for the 'aitu or 'atua that is in him. 'Aitmana: Before Christianity they did not know what he was. A power greater than 'aitu and devils on island. An all powerful spirit or influence. |
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