The Hawaiian gazette., 1893-09-26

Hawaii and the archipelagoeS of the
South. No doubt many names have
failed to reach us by having dropped
out of tradition, or having been so
OVERLAND with mythical extravagan-
cies as TO effectually conceal the truth
that lies at the bottom of their story.
OF those that have survived, none
seem more worthy TO head the list,
both as 10 Importance and priority in
time, than Paao.
The story of Paao so well illustrates
the disturbed conditions of the times,
and some peculiaritieS Of Polynesian
life, that it seems worth while to give
il at length.
Paao and his older brother, Lono-
pele, were priests of Samoa, Paao
being the kahu tkeeper) of the god
Kukailimofu They were both men
Of authority and weight, highly ac-
Paao was also skilled in navigation,
astronomy and divination. Both of
the brothers were successful farmers,
and each of them had q son to whom
he was greatly attached.
The relations between the brothers
were by no means pleasant, and seem
30 have become so strained as TO result
in open violence.
On one occasion Lonopele, having
suffered from thievish depredations
on his farm, came TO Paao and COM
planned that Paao's son had been steal
ing his fruit.
"Did you see him take the fruit ,"
said Paao.
No; but l saw him walking on
the land. and / firmly believe that it
was he who took it, said Lonopele.
IF so, my son is in the wrong"
said Paao.
Yes, he is, said Lonopele.
THAT being the case, / will cut him
open,n said Paao; but if your stolen
fruit is not found within him, what
shall he done with you?"
That is none of my affair." said
Lonopele; "who ever heard of cut
ting open a mans stomach to decide
such a question ,"
Paao then cut open his sons body,
and babe Lonopele come and witness
10 the fact that the stolen fruit was
not there
Paao, beside himself with grief and
regret for the loss of his son, imme-
diately began to plan vengeance, and
to seek the death of the son Of his
brother, Lonopele.
True to the instincts and impulses
of his Polynesian blood, he deter
mined in disgust to abandon the scene
of his strife and seek home in other
lands.
With this purpose in view, he at
once set his kahunas at the task of
constructing a large double canoe.
The work neared completion, the top
rails had been fitted and put in place,
the three cross-pieces Ciako), hewn
into shape, the hulls of the canoes
smeared with black paint, and there
remained only the sacred task of bind
ing firmly together the different parts
with sinnet (aha). Paao ordered a
tabu; for q month no fire was to be
lighted, no person was to walk abroad,
no one was to work on his farm or go
a-fishing. At the opening Of the
second month Paao heard the noise of
some one drumming on the canoes.
On inquiry, il proved that it was his
nephew, q fine youth, the son of his
brother, Lonopele, who was guilty of
this impertinent breach of ceremony.
Seeing his opportunity, PaaO COM
manded his people to catch the boy |
and slay him. This was done, and |
the body of the hapless youth, after |
serving as a consecrating sacrifice, |
was buried under the canoe. The |
work of binding the lashings was now
and the tabu was de-
1lared at an end.
As soon as the days of the tabu |
were passed, Lonopele started out |
in search of his missing son,
and turning his steps towards the
house of Paao, he came to the shed
.halaul, where the canoes were rest
ng on their blocks tlona), and stop
ped to admire the elegance of their
AS he stood at the stern
and passed his eye along to the bow
in critical appreciation of their lines,
his attention was drawn to a swarm
ng of flies that had gathered. He
removed a block from beneath the
canoe, and, to his horror, their lay
the dead body of his boy. His in
iignation and wrath vented them
selves in bitter imprecatiOns against
The author of the atrocious murder,
and in irony and derision he called
he canoe Ka-nalo-a-mu-ia the
warming of the flies.
As the preparations for his depar-
ure neared completion, Paao launch
d his canoe into the sea, and began
o lay in supplies of food and water,
III kinds of stores for long voyage.
The canoe was rugged with a mast
ind q triangular sail Of braided pan ;
Janus leaf called a Ia, which was ,
placed with its apex downwards.
When the wind was contrary, or the
Weather was so rough, that the sail
ould not be used TO advantage, the
mast and sail would probably be I'M
ihipped, folded up, and dashed to the
akos, or cross pieces that held the :
wo canoes together, and progress
you'd then depend upon the use of
be paddle. There were seats for
Orty paddlemen sitting two on a
ench. Midships of the canoe was
aised platform tpolsl screened off by
1ats, and protected against the
FEATHER by roof, or awning, which s
Dr. the accommodation Of Paao and 7
is family party, including an older
Ister, Namauu-o-A alaea.
Paao himself was the priest of the Z
ompany, 8 most important Office;
the navigator and astro-
omer (kilo- hokul-upon him de-
ended the course to be taken; Halsu, {