The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-05
HAWAIIAN FOLK TALES.
From the CHICAGO Eetos Record.
I. THE KEL-KrNG.

maiden liked not her fathers employment
for she believed it to be an offense against
Atua, the ALLEGED, 70 deprive any animal OF
that life which Asua had breathed into it
And this was pleasing unto Atua, and be
blessed Liliokani with exceeding beauty; no
other eyes were so large, dark and tender
as hers; the braids OF her long, soft hair fell
like siIken seagrass upon her shoulders; she
was tall and graceful as the palm, and her
voice was the voice Of the sea when the sea
cradles the moonlight and sings it to sleep.
Full many kings sons came wooing Lilo
ksni and chiefs renowned In war; and with
others came Tatatao, that was a mighty
hunter of hares and had compassed famous
hardships. For those men that delight IN
adventure aud battle are most pleasantly
minded to gentle women, for thus capri
ciously hath Atus, the alleged, ordained.
But Liliokani had no ear to the wooing of
khese men, and she fisherman's daughter
was a virgin when Mimi came.
Mimi was king of the cells and Atus had
given him eternal life and the power 20
change his shape when it pleased him TO
issue from the water and walk the earth.
IL befeu that this eel-kiDg, Mimi. beheld
Liliokaui upon time as he swan the little
river near her fathers abode, and he saw
that she was exceeding fair, and he heard
the soft, sad sea-tone in her voice. So for
many days Mimi frequented those parts
aud grew more and more in love with the
maiden.
Upon a certain day, while she helped her
father to mend his nets, Lilokani saw a
young manof goodly stature and handsome
face approaching, aud TO herself she said
"Surely If ever be tempted TO wed il shall
be with this young man, whose like have
never before known" But she had no
thought that 1t was Mimi, the eel king,
who, in this changed shape, now walked the
earth.
Sweetly he made obeisauce and pleasant
was his discourse with the fisherman and
his daughter. and be told them many things
of his home, which, he said, was many
kumes distant from that SPOT. Though he
spake mostly TO the old man, his eyes were
fixed upon Liliokani, and, after the fashion
Of her sex, that nader presently knew
that be had great love unto her. Many
days after that came Mimi TO hold discourse
with them, and they had joy Of his coming,
for, IN sooth, he WAS Of fair countenance
aud sweet address, and the fisherman, being
a single-mlnded and q simple man, had nc
suspicion of the love between Mimi and
Liluksni. But once Mimi said to Liliokani
in such voice as the sea wind hath to the
maiden palm trees: Brown maiden mine ,
let thy door be Unmatched this night and
will come to thee"
So the door was not latched that night
and Mimi went in unto her, aud they two
we're together and alone.
"What meaneth that moaning Of the scar
asked LiliokanL
1.-THE sea chanteth our bridal anthem ,
he answered.
"And what sad music cometh from the
palms tonight" she asked.
They sing soft and low of our wed ded
love-" he added.
But Liliokani apprehended evil, and, all
though she spake no more OF il at that time
a fear OF trouble was in her heart.
Now Atua, the alleged, was exceeding
wroth at this thing, and in grievous anger
he beheld how that every night the door
was Unattached and Mimi went in unto Lilo.
kani. And Atua set about TO do vengeance
and Atua's wrath is sure and very dread
full
There was night which Mimi did moi
come; the door was Unattached and the breath
OF liliokapi was as the perfume of flowers
and OF spices commtngled; yet he came not.
Then Lillokani wept and unbranded her hair
and cried as q widow crieth, and she thought
that Mimi had found another pleasaurei
than she unto him. So, upon the mex
night, she latched the door, But in TIT
middle Of the night, when the fire v a
kindled in the island moon, there was {
gentle tapping Of the door, and Mimi called
to her. And when she unattached the door
she began to CHG him, but he stopped her
Gliding, and with grooming he TOOK her tc
ms breast, and she knew by the beating Of
his heart 6har evil had come upon them
Then Mini told her who he was and how
wroth the alleged was because the eel-kInR,
forgetfuI Of his Immortality and neRlectfu
OF his domain, loved the daughter Of a NOR
tai.
"Forswear me. then" quoth Liliokani
"forswear me, ana come not hither again,
and the anger of the alleged shall be APP
peased."
1T is not to lie to Atua," answered Mimi.
"The all-god readeth every heart and
knoweth every thought How can |, that
love thee only, forswear thee3 More lust
and terrible would be Atua's wrath for that
lie to him and that wrong to thee and TO
myself. Brown maiden / 60 back into the
sea and from thee forever, bearing with me
a love for thee which even the all-Rod's
anger cannot chill"
So he kissed her for the last time bade her
a last farewell, and then he went from that
door down to the waters edge and into his
domain. Aud 'Liliokani made great moan
and her heart was like to break. But the
sea was placid as a hearthstone and the
palms lay asleep in the sky that night for
it was Atua's will that the woman should
suffer alone.
In the middle Of the next night mighty
tempest arose. The clouds reached down
aud buffeted the earth and sea, and the
winds and the waters Dried out in anger
against each other and smoue each other.
Above she tumult Atla's voice was heard.
Arise, Liliokani," quoth that voice, land
with thy fathers stone Ratchet smite off the
head of the fish that neth upon the TIRES
hold Of the door,"
Then Liliokani arose with fear and trem-
bling and went to the door, and there, on
threshold, lay monster eel whose body
been hoated thither by the flood and the
tempest With her fathers stone Ratchet
she smote off the celia head, and the head
fell into the hut, but the long, dead body
foated back with the food into the sea and
was seen no more. Then the tempest
abated, and with the morning came the
suns light and its tender warmth. And at
the earliest moment Liliokani took the cells
head secretly and buried 1t with much sor-
row and weeping, for the eyes within that
hfeless head we're Minis eyes, and Liliokaui
knew that this thing was come Of the all
gods wrath.
1t was her wont to 20 each day and make
moan over the spot where she had hid this
vestige OF Der love, and presently Atua
pltled her, for AtuR loveth his children
upon this earth, even though they sin most
Rrievously. So, by and by, Liliokani saw
that two green leaves were sprouting fnom
the earth, and in a season these two leaves
became twin stalks and grew into trees, the
like of which had never before been seen