inspired, who was thus rendered capable of prophesying (vol. ii.
p. 100). For the Tongan, therefore, inspiration indubitably
was possession.

When one of the higher gods was invoked, through his priest, by
a chief who wished to consult the oracle, or, in old Israelitic
phraseology, to "inquire of," the god, a hog was killed and
cooked over night, and, together with plantains, yams, and the
materials for making the peculiar drink kava (of which
the Tongans were very fond), was carried next day to the priest.
A circle, as for an ordinary kava-drinking entertainment, was
then formed; but the priest, as the representative of the god,
took the highest place, while the chiefs sat outside the circle,
as an expression of humility calculated to please the god.


As soon as they are all seated the priest is considered as
inspired, the god being supposed to exist within him from that
moment. He remains for a considerable time in silence with his
hands clasped before him, his eyes are cast down and he rests
perfectly still. During the time the victuals are being shared
out and the kava preparing, the matabooles sometimes begin to
consult him; sometimes he answers, and at other times not;
in either case he remains with his eyes cast down. Frequently he
will not utter a word till the repast is finished and the kava
too. When he speaks he generally begins in a low and very
altered tone of voice, which gradually rises to nearly its
natural pitch, though sometimes a little above it. All that he
says is supposed to be the declaration of the god, and he
accordingly speaks in the first person, as if he were the god.