The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1894-06-09
By GRaNTALlGNA

discOrdant drum or tOm-tom, beaten in
a sort OF recurrent tune, was heard
toward the hills: and at its very first
sound both the Shadows. tlingine
themselves upon their faces with every
sign of terror, endeavOred to hide
themselves under the native mats with
which the bare little hut was roughly
carpeted.
Whats the matter:'' Felix cried,
in English, TO Mali: for Muriel had al
ready explained to him how the girl
had picked up some knowledge of our
tongue in Queensland.
Mali trembled in every limb. so that
she could hardly speak. "Tu-Kila-
kila come, " she answered, all breath
less. No black fellow look at him.
Burn blackfellow up. You and Missy
korong. All right for you. Go out to
meet him.
Turk la-Kila is coming" the young
man-Shadow said, in Polynesian, al
most in the same breath, AMI no less
TREMENDOUSLY. We dare not look upon
his face lest he burn us to ashes. He
is very great Taboo. His face is fire.
But you two are gods. Step forth 10
receive him.
Felix took Muricl's hand in his,
somewhat trembling himself, and led
her forth on to the open space in front
Of the huts to meet the man-gOd. She
followed him like "a child. She was
woman enough for that. She had i'm
picit trust in him.
As they emerged, a strange process
sion met their eyes unawares, coming
down the ZigZag path that led from
the hills to the shore of the lagoon,
where their huts were situated -
its head marched two mental,
straight, and supple-wearing huge
feather masks over their faces, and
beating tOm-tOms, decorated with long
strings of shiny cOwrics. After them,
in order, came a sort of hollow square
of chiefs or warriors, surrounding
with fan-palmS central oh, ect all
shrOuded from the view with the ut
most precautiOn. This central OBJ ,ect
was covered with a huge regal UNI
brella, from whose edge hung rows of
small nautilus and other shells, so as
to form a kind of screen, like the Jap
ancSe pOrtIcrs now so common in En-
glish doorways. Two supporters held
1t up one on either side, in long clOakS
Of feathers. Under the umbrella a
man seemed to move: and as he APP
preached, the natives, to right and
left, flew prccipitately to their huts,
snatChing up their naked little ones
from the ground as they went, and
crying aloud, Taboo. Taboo. He
comes, he comes. Tu-kila-Kila, Tu-
kilakila.'
The procession wound slowly on, I'M
needing these common creatures. till
it reached the huts. Then the chiefs
who formed the hollow square fell
back one by one, and the man under
the umbrella, with his two supporters,
came forward boldly. Felix nDtlced
that they crossed without scruple the
thick white line Of sand which all the
other natives so carefully respected.
The man within the umbrella drew
aside the curtain Of hanging nautilus
sholls. His face was covered with
thin mask Of paper mulberry bar6: but
Felix knew he was the self-same per-
son whom they had seen the day be-
fore in the central temple.
Tukilakila's air was more insOlent
ana arrogant than even before. He
was clearly in high spirits. you have
done well, O King OF the Rain" he
said, turning gayly to Felix; and you,
o Queen of the Clouds; you have done
right bravely. We have all acquitted
ourselves as our people would wish.
We have made our showers TO descend
abundantly from heaven; we have
caused the croIs to grow; we have
wcttcd the plantain bushes. See: Tu-
klla-kila, who is so great a god, has
come from his own home on the hills
to greet YOU
1t has certainly rained in the night"
Felix answered, dryly.
But Tu-kila-kila was not to be put
of thus. Adjusting his thin mask or
veil OF bark. so as to hide his face more
thoroughly from the inferior god, he
turned round once more to the chiefs,
who even so, hardly dared to look
openly upon him. Then he struck an
attitude. The man was clearly burst
ing with spiritual pride. He knew
himself to be god, and was filed with
the insOlenCe of his Supernatur al
power. See, my people, he cried,
holding up his hands, palms outward,
in his accustomed gOd-like way: II am
indeed a great deity-Lord of Heaven
Lord OF Earth. Life Of the World, Mas
ter of Time, Measurcr of the Suns
Course, Spirit OF Growth, Creator of
the Harvest, Master of MOrtals, Be
v I
Pillar of Heaven"
The warriors bowed down before
their bloated master with an unques-
toned assent. "Giver of Life to all
the host OF the gods, " they cried. You
the equipOise of Heaven and Earth. we
acknowledge your might; we give you
thanks eternally."
Ink iIo- L Ito SUa11od ,,-it !, ,-;c;l,I, -,
pOrtance. Did | not tell you. my
meat he exclaimed. Il would bring
YOU new gods, great spirits from the
sun, fetchers of fire from my bright
home in the heavens? Have they not
brought the precious gift of fresh fire
with them
"Tu-Kila-Kila speaks true" the
chiefs echoed, submissively, with
bent heads.
Did not MAKE one Of them King
of the Rain" Tu-Kila- Kila asked once
more. stretching one hand toward the
sky with theatrical magniticence. Did
! not declare the other Queen OF the
Clouds in Heaven: And have | not
caused them to bring down showers
this night upon our crops? Has not
the dry earth drunk? Am [ not the
-
"Tu-kila- Kila SAYS we'll" the chiefs
responded, once more, in unanimous
chorus.
Tu-kila-Kila struck another attitude
with childish self-satisfaction Il go
into the hut to speak with my minis
tiers. he said. grandilOguentlv.
Fire and water. wait you hear out
side while enter and speak with nv
friends from the sun, whom I have
brought for the salvation of the crops
to Boupari.
The King Of Fire and the King of
Water, supporting the umbrella.
bowed assent TO his words. Tu-kila-
kila motioned Felix and Muriel into
the nearest hut. 1t was the one
where the two shadows Law
crouchinC in terror among the
native mats. ~ the god tried to en-
ter. the two covering wretches set up
a loud shout. Taboo, Taboo, Mercy.
Mercy, Mercy" Tu-Kila-Kila re-
treated with a cOntemptuous smile. Il
want to see you alone" he said. in
J nj