The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-12-05
RATU TANITO'S LOVE.

lNAl ~ l4A1N1 4 " ~ 1IO LIZ
Ratu Tanito, son of the great King |
Tui Katubua, dwelt in Wit Levu, which |
some call Fiji. He was in stature like
to the tree mbaka, and light shone in
his young eyes, so that his presence
could be known at night. His canoe
sped with the wind; his dancing in
the war dance brought forth a great
shout from the people; his arm broke
apart the strongest breakers, and men
called him the "Kings Arrow"
Now when the meke was ended that
they had danced on the eighteenth birth
day of Ratu Tanito, Katubua called his
son to him and said:
''My son, shall my line end with your
Ratu Tanito answered, mot so, my
father, for l will marry"
Then the king said: "Ratu Tanito,
choose wife, observing these three re-
quirements-First, that she be young;
second, that she be strong, and third,
that she be obedient."
my father" replied the young man,
sis it not also a requirement that she be
beautiful?
The king answered, obedience is
beauty"
"Tui Witt" said Ratu Tanito, 81 have
chosen a wife. She is young for she was
born on the day when l first stood erect
She is strong for she can abide the grasp
of my hand without fiinching. She is
obedient for she has honored her parents.
Il. = 1,,n,,Esrt,1 fho 1aUy on1
lovely as the night. When l see her my
heart is as basin in which the springs
surge hotly up and fall back in tumult."
"Who is the maidenT" said the king,
"Her name is Ekesa," the youth re-
piled. "She dwells in Vanua Levu, and
is the daughter of Savenaka, its king"
"Have you spoken to her Of lover" the
king asked.
"No," said Ratu Tanito.
"Go and speak with her concerning
her parents said the king.
Tui Katubua having thus commanded,
Ratu Tanito departed by night in his
canoe to Vanua Levu. And on day
he returned and his brow was clear, and
he came before the king and said, "Tui
Witt, have performed your commands
and have spoken with the maiden Ekesa
concerning her parents"
The king received the words of Ratu
Tanito, and looking on his son said,
abide now with me and at the end of
the seven days go again to the maiden
and speak with her concerning war and
combats with the sharks" And Ratu
| Tanito did as he was commanded and
returned with a clear brow and said,
"My father, l have done according to
your commands"
And again the king commanded him
to abide for seven days, and returning
to the maiden to speak with her con-
cerning the gods. And it was done as
he commanded.
Then said Tui Katubua, go now,
my son, and speak with the maiden
concerning the government of men.
And Ratu Tanito departed and came to
Vanua Levu.
But when he returned thence his brow
was clouded and his eyes were angry,
and as he reached his fathers presence
he stepped with a firm step, $50 now,
my son." said the king, "your canoe has
met with mischance and has been
dashed against a rock"
mot so," the young man replied; ''my
canoe is safe, oh, father"
81 grieve, oh, my son." said the ia
ther, "that your safe departure has beer
opposed by the king of Vanua Lew
and that he has sought to make you 6
prisoner, for our vengeance will fall
heavily on his people"
"Savenal1a, king of Vanua Levu, hal
nowise impeded my departure from hi
I island" said the youth, ''nor has h
known of my presence there"
"And yet anger sits above your eyes,
said the old king.
Then Ratu Tanito composed his fea
lures and said to his father: Forget
my father, that have given way to an
other because of a trihe. Ekesa, tn
maiden of whom spoke, has said fool
ish thing, and, recollecting it, my spiri
was disturbed"
"And what said the maidenr'
"Truly, she is of opinion that womei
! are of equal spirit and understandin
with men, and should divide the govern
ment of human affairs with them.
think such were her words, but of a vel
ity heard not certainly, being muc
provoked, and having driven my foe
against aroot as we walked.
y "Theh you have quarreled with tn
maiden?' said Tui Katubua.
ono" said Ratu Tanito, 81 am not
woman. forbore to answer her, an
after she had spoken for time and ha
. sworn she would marry no man VIII
held himself her superior, left her"
. Then said Tui Katubua, "Go nov
my son, and take war canoes, and fetc
Ekesa before me-"
"The king commands" said Rat
y Tanito. "But, father, 1 no longer wis
to marry the girl and the gods forbi
that she should come to harm at n
handsm
mo harm shall come to her." sal
Katubua. "Do you as l command"
: Accordingly, Ratu Tanito tosk vi
canoes and went to Vanua Levu al
bore away Ekesa by force. And retur
ing TO Viii Levu he brought her befo
his father, who sat in state, surrounds
X by his chiefs and priests, And seeiI
this array about her, as though TO jud
her, Ekesa's eye flashed and she look
deiantly at King Katubua. Nigh
monarch" she cried, "do not fear II
q do not surround yourself with 20
chiefs. Imean you no harm, and indie
have come here against my will, bel
ly brought a prisoner by this youth, one
your people, Set me free and chast
him, and my father, Savenaka, "
thank you and be your brother"
1T is my son, Ratu Tanito, who briI
you here" said Katubua.
"Are you Ratu Tanito?' cried
princess, turning to the young ms
- And she exclaimed with double for
= ''Then you are the great traitorT'
Maiden" said King Katubua, "
assured. No harm shall befall you. }
it has come to our ears that in Van
Levu the women are the equal Of
men, and as this seems a strange thi
,, 10 US, we have desired 10 see it test
: and especially to inquire whether