{"id":"01KG8AM56KBZQ6ACMKNCV6GXQX","cid":"bafkreiget4op47omvvghli5it34cgmiv4kgmzbkmpfprx5s5tkp3ar2yay","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":7770,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:25.203Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 6","source_file":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","start_line":7710,"text":"terminating in a paddle at the lower end, after the general fashion of\r\nthese weapons, was curved into a heathenish-looking little image. This\r\ninstrument, however, might perhaps have been emblematic of his double\r\nfunctions. With one end in carnal combat he transfixed the enemies of\r\nhis tribe; and with the other as a pastoral crook he kept in order his\r\nspiritual flock. But this is not all I have to say about Kolory.\r\n\r\nHis martial grace very often carried about with him what seemed to me\r\nthe half of a broken war-club. It was swathed round with ragged bits of\r\nwhite tappa, and the upper part, which was intended to represent a\r\nhuman head, was embellished with a strip of scarlet cloth of European\r\nmanufacture. It required little observation to discover that this\r\nstrange object was revered as a god. By the side of the big and lusty\r\nimages standing sentinel over the altars of the Hoolah Hoolah ground, it\r\nseemed a mere pigmy in tatters. But appearances all the world over are\r\ndeceptive. Little men are sometimes very potent, and rags sometimes\r\ncover very extensive pretensions. In fact, this funny little image was\r\nthe ‘crack’ god of the island; lording it over all the wooden lubbers\r\nwho looked so grim and dreadful; its name was Moa Artua*. And it was in\r\nhonour of Moa Artua, and for the entertainment of those who believe in\r\nhim, that the curious ceremony I am about to describe was observed.\r\n\r\n*The word ‘Artua’, although having some other significations, is in\r\nnearly all the Polynesian dialects used as the general designation of\r\nthe gods.\r\n\r\n\r\nMehevi and the chieftains of the Ti have just risen from their noontide\r\nslumbers. There are no affairs of state to dispose of; and having eaten\r\ntwo or three breakfasts in the course of the morning, the magnates of\r\nthe valley feel no appetite as yet for dinner. How are their leisure\r\nmoments to be occupied? They smoke, they chat, and at last one of their\r\nnumber makes a proposition to the rest, who joyfully acquiescing, he\r\ndarts out of the house, leaps from the pi-pi, and disappears in the\r\ngrove. Soon you see him returning with Kolory, who bears the god Moa\r\nArtua in his arms, and carries in one hand a small trough, hollowed out\r\nin the likeness of a canoe. The priest comes along dandling his charge\r\nas if it were a lachrymose infant he was endeavouring to put into a\r\ngood humour. Presently entering the Ti, he seats himself on the mats as\r\ncomposedly as a juggler about to perform his sleight-of-hand tricks; and\r\nwith the chiefs disposed in a circle around him, commences his ceremony.\r\nIn the first place he gives Moa Artua an affectionate hug, then\r\ncaressingly lays him to his breast, and, finally, whispers something in\r\nhis ear; the rest of the company listening eagerly for a reply. But\r\nthe baby-god is deaf or dumb,--perhaps both, for never a word does, he\r\nutter. At last Kolory speaks a little louder, and soon growing angry,\r\ncomes boldly out with what he has to say and bawls to him. He put me in\r\nmind of a choleric fellow, who, after trying in vain to communicated a\r\nsecret to a deaf man, all at once flies into a passion and screams it\r\nout so that every one may hear. Still Moa Artua remains as quiet as\r\never; and Kolory, seemingly losing his temper, fetches him a box over\r\nthe head, strips him of his tappa and red cloth, and laying him in\r\na state of nudity in a little trough, covers him from sight. At this\r\nproceeding all present loudly applaud and signify their approval by\r\nuttering the adjective ‘motarkee’ with violent emphasis. Kolory however,\r\nis so desirous his conduct should meet with unqualified approbation,\r\nthat he inquires of each individual separately whether under existing\r\ncircumstances he has not done perfectly right in shutting up Moa Artua.\r\nThe invariable response is ‘Aa, Aa’ (yes, yes), repeated over again\r\nand again in a manner which ought to quiet the scruples of the most\r\nconscientious. After a few moments Kolory brings forth his doll again,\r","title":"Chunk 6"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJR250Y3B8PH384FGZ4CM","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AM56FCDJ4R30BY94VPMAC","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AM56K0JJQF1FXVEQYVNBY","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:27.859Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:40.736Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}