“At this time,” says Mr. Williams,[54] “a ludicrous circumstance occurred, which
will illustrate the ignorance and superstition of this people. A favourite cat had
been taken on shore by one of the teachers’ wives on our first visit, and not
liking his new companions, Tom fled to the mountains. The house of the priest
Tiaki, who had just destroyed his idol, was situated at a distance from the
settlement, and at midnight while he was lying asleep on his mat, his wife, who
was sitting awake by his side musing upon the strange events of the day, beheld
with consternation two fires glistening in the doorway, and heard with surprise a
mysterious voice. Almost petrified with fear, she awoke her husband, and began
to upbraid him for his folly in burning his god, who, she declared, was now
come to be avenged of them. ‘Get up and pray, get up and pray,’ she said. The
husband arose, and on opening his eyes beheld the same glaring lights, and heard
the same ominous sound. Impelled by the extreme urgency of the case, he
commenced, with all possible vehemence, vociferating the alphabet as a prayer
to GOD to deliver them from the vengeance of Satan. On hearing this, the cat, as
much alarmed as the priest and his wife, of whose nocturnal peace he had been
the unconscious disturber, ran away, leaving the poor people congratulating
themselves on the efficacy of their prayer.”
Afterwards, in the course of his wanderings, Puss reached the district of the
Satanus; and, as the marae was situated in a sequestered corner, and
overshadowed by the luxuriant foliage of patriarchal trees, the graybeards of the
wood, he was well pleased with the place. In order to keep the best of company,
he took up his abode with the gods; and as he met with no opposition from
within, he little expected any from without. But some few days after came the
priest, accompanied by a number of worshippers, to present some offerings to
the god; on his opening the door, Tom respectfully welcomed him with a miaou.
At this unwonted salutation he rushed back in terror, shouting to his followers:
“Here’s a monster from the deep! here’s a monster from the deep!”
Whereupon the whole party hastened home, assembled several hundreds of their
companions, assumed their war-caps, equipped themselves with spear, club, and
sling, blackened their bodies with charcoal, and in all this pomp and
circumstance of Polynesian war, rushed, with yells, cries, and shouts, to attack
poor Puss. He, however, daunted by their grim and strange array, did not await
their approach. The moment the door was open, a leap and a bound—he was
gone! Abiit, evasit, erupit. As he darted through the assembled warriors, they
fled precipitately in all directions.
The religious system of the Samoans, according to Mr. Williams, differed in