KOROR STATE GOVERNMENT MARINE TOUR GUIDE ... - C3

4.7 Religion and Magic
Since pre-contact times, the Palauan faith was based on ancestral worship and nature
Spirits. The ancestral Spirits were called Bladek, the nature spirits Chelid. After death
and burial it was believed that the spirit moved to a resting place. One such resting place
was a flat topped Rock Island called Ongetekatel. Another is Ngedelock, on the southern
tip of Angaur Island. There spirits were often heard singing and priests went there to
communicate with the spirits.
Priests were called ‘Kerong’. They were not appointed but became priests after the
spirits ‘called’ them. They would then announce their priesthood. They were usually from
low-ranking clans and rich clan members would come to them with offerings and money
for the spirits. The priests answered their questions and requests on behalf of the spirits,
and were said to be able to conjure up illness, death or spells. Priests often became rich
from these offerings and received money beads that would otherwise have stayed in rich
clans only.
Special houses were built for the priests and spirits, called Ulengang. These small
houses were often as well decorated as the most important village meeting house.
Spirits could have representatives in the forms of animals or village Chiefs. Some chiefs
were considered to be half-man half-god.
Besides priests, there were also magicians in Palau, called Rekerong. They were not as
powerful as the priests but could conjure up spells. Not protected by the spirits,
magicians were often killed if suspected of putting a curse on someone. Magicians
worked with leaves, betelnut, and other objects and made leaves dance, kids disappear
temporarily and made love potions.
Although the Spanish, Germans and early traders tried to convert the Palauans to
Christianity, many only followed out of fear. Even when converted, they often stuck with
the local faith. In 1915, the Modekngei movement was founded on Babeldaob. The
movement was based on the original faith in offerings and spirits and still exists today,
although now it has mixed with Christianity in many ways.
Missionaries have been successful though and most Palauans are Catholic, Protestant
or Seventh Day Adventist. Bahai, Mormon and other religions are also present. The spirit
houses have all but disappeared. Most were damaged during storms and families who
converted to Christianity never bothered to have them rebuilt. The Modekngei people
have started using modern buildings for their meetings.
84