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RELIGIOUS RITES

or garments of Tooitonga, there is no otherchief can relieve him from his taboo , because nochief is equal to him in rank; and, to avoid theinconvenience arising from his absence, a con-secrated bowl (or some such thing), belongingto Tooitonga, is applied to and touched, insteadof his feet. In Mr. Mariner’s time, Tooitongaalways left a pewter dish for this purpose, whichdish was given to his father by Captain Cook .Veachi usually adopted a similar plan. Cava,either the root or the infusion, cannot be ta-booed by the touch of any chief of what ranksoever; so that a common tooa may chew cavawhich even Tooitonga has touched.

Toogoo Ca'va. This ceremony consists inmerely leaving a small piece of cava root beforea consecrated house or grave, out of respect toa god, or to the departed spirit of a chief or re-lation, at the same time the ceremony of toogior beating the cheeks is performed, as related(Vol. I. p. 89.) The toogi, which is performedat burials, is of a more serious nature.

Lotoo is the term used for praying; but itis more commonly applied to prayers offered upin the fields to all the gods, but particularly toAlo Alo, petitioning for a good harvest. Itwill be also recollected, that prayers are offeredup before consecrated houses and graves.

As omens, to which they give a considerable