Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1890-08-01
EATU TANrTO'S WO0ING.

some call Fiji. lie was in stature like TO
theSree mbaka, and a light shone in his
Young eyes. SO that his presence could be
brown at night. His canoe sped with
1he wind: his dancing IN the war dance
brought forth q great shout from the
people: his arm broke apart the strongest
breakers, and men called him ''Ihe
Kings Arrow"
Now when the meke was ended that
they had danced on the eighteenth birth
day Of Ratu Tanito. Katubua called his
500 to him and said:
''Ny son. shall my line end with your"
Ratu Tanito answered; 'Not so. my
father, for / will marry"
Then the king said; "Ratu Tanito.
choose a wife. observing these three re-
quirements. Fivst, that she be young;
second, that she be strong, and third.
that she be obedient."
My father" replied the Young a
"is IL not also a requirement that she be
beautifuiy'
Tie king answered. obedience is
beauty"
"Tui Viii. said Ratu Tanito, Il have
chosen a wife. She is young. for she
was born on the day first stood erect.
Size is strong, for she can abide the grasp
Of my hand without iiinching. She is
obedient, for she has honored her pa.
rents. And she is beautiful as the day
and lovely as the night. When 1 see her
my heart is as a basin in which the
springs surge hotly up and fall back in
tumult."
"Who is the maiden?' said the king.
''Her name is Ekesa,r the youth re-
Piled. "She dwells in Vauua Levu, and
is the daughter Of S%avenalla, its king"
Have you spoken 10 her Of lover the
king asked.
NO." said Ratu Tanito.
"Go and speak with her concerning
her parents. said the king.
TUT Katubua having thus commanded
Ratu Tanito departed 10y night in hi
to vanua Levu. And ON a day h,
returned aud his brow was clear: and Ii,
came before the king and said: "Tu
Viii. ! have performed your command
and ave spoken with the Maiden Ekes
concerning her parents
The king received the words of Rat,
Tanito and, looking on his SON, said
abide now with me and at the end q
seven days 70 again to the maiden an
speak with her concerning wal and CON
bats with the shark" And Rata Tan
ifo did as lac was commanded and re
turned with u clear brow and said: M
father, / have done according TO- you
commands"
And again the king commanded hin
TO abide for seven days, and returning {
ihe maidcA 60 speak with her conceruin
the gods. And it was done as he CON
manded.
Then said TUT Katubua, $50 now
my son, and speak with the maiden cor
corning the government Of men" An
Ratu Tanito departed and came TO Vanu
Levu.
But when he returned thence his bro
was cloudod and his eyes were angry
and as he reached his fathers presence b
stepped with a firm step. 80 now, m
son." said the king, "your canoe has IN,
with a ~mischance and has been dashe
against a rock"
mot So the young man reptile,
my canoe is save. oh. father
Il grieve, oh. my son" said the Il
Their, that your safe departure has bee
opposed by the king of Vanua Lew. an
that he has sought to make YOU a pri
oner. for. II vengeance will fall heaviI
on his people,
"Savenaka. king Of Vanua Lew, hi
nowise impeded my departure from l.
island said the youth, nor has !
known Of my presence there
"And yet anger sits above your eyes
said the Old king.
Then Ratu 1anito composed his fe
ures and said to his father; Forge
my father. that l have given way to 8
ger because of a tribe. Ekesa, the mai
en- of whom | spoke. has said a fooli.
thing, and, %recollecting il, my spirit vi
disturbed"
And what said the maidtnY'
Truly, she Is of opinion tlat womt
are Of equal spirit and UNDERESTIMATE
with men, and SHOULD divide the COVER
ment Of human affairs with them.
think such were Her words. but Of
verify / heard not certainly, being muc
provoked. and having driven my foi
against a root as we walked
Then You have quareled with Il
maiden? said TUT Katubua.
NO said Ratu Tanito. ~ am not
woman. I forbore 10 answer her an
after she had spoken for a time, and ha
sworn she would marry no man wi
held himself her superior, l left her.
Then said TUT Katubua; 'Go now, M
hOn and take war canoes. and fetc
Ekesa before me-"
'llo king c0mman, said Rat
Tanito, But father, l no longer wis
70 marry the girl; and the eods forh.
that She should come ~ harm at IN
hands,
"No harm shall come 20 her" sal
Kagubua. DO you as I communal
Accordingly Ratu Tanito took ":
canoes and went 70 Vanua Lew aud boz
away Ekesa by forca. And returning
Viii Levu be brought her before h
father. who sat ia state, surrounded .