Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1890-08-01

hiI cil,fs AND priests. And seei.z thi7
ARRAY about hof. os1heufh taiadEe Der.
Esesta eye iishp6 ard she locked de-
fanlyat King Kctuhua. "Nishiy mon.
agch. she cried. "d0 not fear me; do NOT
crf9unl yourself with your chiefs !
Neon you no harm. and indeed have
com, here against mr. VIII. being brought
q prisoner by this youth Of your
| people. Set me free. and chastise him
and my father. Savenaka, will thank
you and b. your brother"
1T is my son. Batu Tanito. who brings
you here said Katubua.
"Are you Ratu Tanitog' cried the prin-
cess, turning to the young man And
she exclaimed with double force: Then
you are the great traitorl'
maiden. said King Katubua. "be as
sured. No harm shall befall you. Yet
it has come 20 II ears that in Vanua
Lew the women are the equal OF the
men. and as this seems a strange thing
to us we have desired to see it tested
and especially to inquire whether th,
women Of Vanua Lew are the equals OF
the men in Viii Lew. For that reason
we have sent 10 bring you here. And
we will propose to you three tests which
il You answer rightly and justly. you
shall depart home in safety and we will
offer You gifts: and. moreover, you shall
lead my son home with YOU to be your
slave, as a reparation for the wrong done
YOU. This l swear TO you. ard be shall
| compete with you in the tests"
Whereat the princess cried out.
He is ignorant what they are to be. ."
said the king. "'Tis a fair match. Be-
hold. he is as much surprised as you
are"
"And if-if I lose?' said Ekesa.
"You shall marry hini." said tie king.
Then the king said. Princess. are you
ready for the first tcstf"
"But." said Ekesa. Il have not yet ac-
cepted your conditions
"Ratu Tanito." said Che king, behold
your WIFE"
"Nayl' cried the princess, II am in
your power. Propose 20 me your tests
and let your son prepare for a life Of
slavery"
Katubua thereupon caused two turtles
eggs to be laid before the princess and
said: Maiden, OF these two eggs which
will bring forth a male turtle and which
a female? THIS is the first test that we
propose to YOU"
At this the princess crossed her arms
upon her breast and laughed s~cornfully
This is a test Of folly. not of wisdom,
she said. mot all the men IN the world
could declare of which Of these two eggs
should be born a male turtle and which
a female"
But Ratu Tanito stepped forward
quickly and took the eggs into his hand
and crushed them. "Of neither" he
said.
Then Katubua said: "Biaiden, though
in truth the question seemed idle, yet tn,
youth is right, for a man must know
when to act"
Next there were brought forth two
bowls, each covered with amatof wovei
grass. And Katubua said: This is III.
second test. OF these wv bowls choos
that which is full Of water
Ekesa trembled, but quickly stretched
out her band and laid it on the neares
bowl. saying, This is it,"
Choose you, now" said the king I
Ratu Tanito.
But Ratu Tanito crossed his arms upo.
bis breast and said. Not 40; for win
shall say That both bowls are not empty?
Then the king drew away the mats O
woven grass and both bowls were empty
maiden" said Eatubua, the youth j
right. for a man should know when +
speak,
/, Then Ekesa bit her IN and said: "Yor
/, juggle with me.
yet" said Katubua, ''the youth ha
detected our jugglery. Rut here is tn
third test and perhaps you will still wi
him for a slave. Which loves a child bel
ter, his father or she who bore hiuny'
Ekesa's eyes flashed. and she drew her
self up. "Of a truth. she who bore him.
she cried.
Ratu Tanito turned and looked upo
e the girl. and slowly there came into hi
/, flashing eyes a tender light. but he di
not speak.
AT this Ekesa called TO the king: TT
Viii, he does not speakr
"And he is right. said the king. SIC
a man should know when to be silent,
= Then Ekesa stamped her foot an
cried aloud in bitterness: 1T was a tral
] You have warned him what h
+ should make and have plotted betwee
! you to shame me, Shame rather ON yol
TUT Katubua!
S Ratu Tanito strobe 70 her side an
S caught her by the wrist and said: &c
@ back to your people. | will none Of yol
You have d%ishonored my father, @
back TO your people. Make a way theI
for the princess, hc shouted to Ii
+ crowd. MAKE a canoe ready lnld set h,
on the shores Of Nanua Levu."
But Ekesa's eyes fell and she did n,
! move: only stood ia her place trembling
Then Katubua said: "Ekesa, NJ
S daughter. the Philosopher Raveniza "a,
asked: "When should u woman disobe
her husband?'
b And Ekesa lifted her fearful eyes an
z answered; Never. oh, my father. sa,
when he bids her leave him.
And Of the union of Ekesa and Of Rat
a Tanito was born the great king Ran
I Cakau. whom men called the Seat
It Justice. and also Vunivalu. tile Root
War.-Philadelphia Times