of the last spell.
V—Canoe Magic, Performed at the Final Start on Overseas Voyage (Chapter VIII, Division III)
The series of rites starts at the moment when the canoes are ready to set sail on the long voyage on Pilolu. They are not associated with a progressive series of acts; they all refer to one aim: canoe speed and reliability. They are all performed by the toliwaga.
| Activity: overseas sailing, inaugurated by a Series of Magical Rites. | |
|---|---|
| Time: morning of the second day of the expedition. | Kadumiyala , ritual rubbing or cleansing of the canoe with leaves charmed over. Bisila magic; pandanus streamers, previously chanted over are tied to the mast and rigging. Kayikunaveva ; swaying the sheet rope uttering an incantation. Vabusi momwa’u ; “expelling the heaviness” out of a canoe by means of a stale potato. Bisiboda patile ; a rite of evil magic to make other canoes slow and thus achieve relative speed. |
| Place: the beach of Muwa. | |
| Aim of Magic: imparting of speed to canoe. | |
| Performer of the Rites: the toliwaga . |