Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-11-05
RATU TANITO'S LOVE.

Ratu Tanito, son of the great King
Tui Katubua, dwelt in Viii Levu, which
some call Fiji. He was in stature like
TO the tree mbaka, and a light shone in
his young eyes. 80 that his presence
could be known Mt night. His canoe
sped with the 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 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, "Not so, my
father. for will marry"
Then the king said: "Ratu Tanito,
choose wife, observing these three re-
qSirements-First, that she be young;
second, that she be strong. and third,
that she be obedient."
my father" replied the young man,
lis it not also requirement that she bs
beautiful"
The king answered, obedience is
beauty"
''Tui VIII" said Ratu Tanito, ~ have
chosen wife, She is young for she was
born on the day when first stood erect.
She is strong for she can abide the grasp
Of my hand without finching. She is
obedient for she has honored her parents.
And she is beautiful as the day and
lovely rs the night. When see her my
heart is ms a basin in which the springs
surge hotly up and fall back in tumult."
"Who is the maideny 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 love" 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
Viii, 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 Inc and at the end Of
the seven dsAs 20 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 q clear brow and said
My father, ] 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 II was done as
he commanded.
Then said TUT 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 q firm step. $50 now,
my son." said the king, "your canoe has
met with mischance aud has been
dashed against rock"
Not 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 been
opposed by the king Of Vanua Levu,
and that he has sought TO make you a
prisoner, for our vengeance will fall
heavily on his people"
"Savenaka, king of Vanua Levu, has
nowise impeded my departure from his
island" said the youth, "nor has he
known of my presence there"
And yet anger sits above your eyes,"
said the old king.
Then Ratu Tanito composed his fea-
tures and said to his father: Forget,
my father, that / have given way to an
other because Of trife. Ekesa, the
maiden of whom spoke, has said fool
ish thing, and, recollecting It, my spirit
was disturbed"
, "And what said the maiden7'
"Truly, she is of opinion that women
are of equal spirit and understanding
with men, and should divide the govern
ment of human affairs with them. ! |
think such were her words, but of q ver-
ity heard not certainly, being much
provoked, and having driven my foot
against root as we walked.
Then you have quarreled with the
maidenY' said TUT Katubua.
mo-" said Ratu Tanito, II am not a
woman. l forbore to answer her, and |
after she had spoken for time and had |
sworn she would marry no man who
held himself her superior, left her."
Then said TUT Kstubua, $50 now,
my son, and take war canoes, and fetch
Ekesa before me-"