Identifier: handbooktoethnog00brit (find matches)
Title: Handbook to the ethnographical collections
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: British Museum. Dept. of British and Mediaeval Antiquities and Ethnography Joyce, Thomas Athol, 1878-1942 Dalton, O. M. (Ormonde Maddock), 1866-1945
Subjects:
Publisher: (London) : Printed by order of the Trustees
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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ape essential. Thus we find pieces ofwood rolled round with sinnet-cord no less venerated than the mostelaborate images (fig. 139). The figures of the greater gods weie r L **■ Fig. )39.—Figure ofthe god of war, Oro,consisting of a piece ofAvood covered ■withwoven sinnet; the eyesand arms are roughlyindicated with sinnet-braid. Tahiti. J^ .^ a^K^J-^^^itkik feLJK^&.^^H N ( I fim^^^k^ •^. f %iC^ ^VT - s > ■ ^liSK^^HK^-^^HK --- - ^AjJ^-^^^ Fig. 140.—Wnoden figure from a sacred en-closure (heiau), Hawaii. usually kept in large temple enclosures (momi, Jiciau), in or nearwhich the higher priests lived (fig. 140). Many of these temjdespossessed the right of Sanctuary, and in them were performed thehuman sacrifices which were almost universal throughout Polynesia.It was only to be expected that with a clearly-defined caste-systemand a powerful priesthood, the theory of talm (see p. 30) shouldhave been developed in the interests of the privileged classes. HATE Vllt.
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Wooden figuie ol Tan;^;uoii Upao Valiii, tlit; l*olyncsi;iii «t;i-god, ropreseiitedin tlio act of creating tlie other gods and men. Wlien found the liollow backcontained a number of small idols. Ruriitu Island, Austral Gri)up. IFace p. 158 POLYNESIANS AND MICRONESIANS 159 The chiefs and priests were themselves sacred or tabu, and thecommon people might neither touch their persons, their garments,or their utensils. The tabu was regarded as contagious, and ashighly dangerous to those of low rank. If a slave touched thehead of a high-priest or chief he might either be killed if detected,if not, die of fright at the imaginary consequences of his action.Everything in the world was divided into two great classes, moaor under tabu, and noa or free, the first being entirely reserved forthe gods, the privileged nobles, and priests. Thus many kinds offood were often moa, and might not be eaten by women or slaves.A man who had incurred fahu might not feed himself. A kingsIjarber might not use h

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