Ritual

Details of ritual are lacking. The ritual must have been influenced not only by the break of transmission in priestly ritual but also by the general poverty of the cultural and material environment. There was a lack of textiles with which to manufacture vestments and the poor range of foods restricted the choice and lavishing of offerings.

The general ritual (whai) took place on the marae. Individual incantations were termed tarotaro. When the Whakaheo or Whainga-aitu went to the marae, he was accompanied by the whakamaru of his tribe and subtribe, who acted as assistants. Food and fish were taken to the marae and after the ritual in which it was offered to the god, the food was divided among the people.

The following brief incantation was recited by the Whainga-aitu on such occasions, and the whakamaru joined in the refrain, “ua!”:

Taimaha i te popongi,
Koi mua ana ia.
Ua!
Taimaha i te awatea,
Koi mua ana ia.
Ua!
Taimaha i te ahiahi,
Koi mua ana ia.
Ua!

Food in the morning,
First is He.
Ua!
Food in the daytime,
First is He.
Ua!
Food in the evening,
First is He.
Ua!

“First is He” refers to the god. The god having thus been exalted, the material food could be distributed to the people. The ceremony was equivalent to a petition for blessing on the food.

Mention has been made of the part taken by the whakamaru (p. 55) and the whakatapaeru (p. 56) when the voyages between the atolls were made.