The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-01-18

burning mountain" So they chang
ed their course and sailed toward
the "bright star"
During the day the men said,
"This is a new wind and has storm
voice." Two more days passed and
the poor people were alternating be-
tween hope and fear. The awful
pangs of hunger and thirst were kill
ing them. If the gods had deceived
them this time all was lost. Paao's
wife was fast sinking and was talk
ing wildly in her delerium. He drew
close to her side and heard her whis-
per: "Oh, my Paao, l am about to
die. / have just dreamed of the
green-walled paradise. I smelled
the sweet MALE blossoms and the
leaves of our marriage wreath. 1
saw the spirit of my son stand by the
cocoanut tree. The vision is from
god. I must surely de-"
This was no dream. The dying
woman had really caught scent of
the fresh breeze and the perfume of
the flowers of the verdant island of
Hawaii. Paao called his astrologer
and babe him "take breath strong
and deep and tell what the winds
say"
81 hear no voice." was the reply.
Then Paao gave his friend little
water to battle his parched lips and
nostrils.
"Now what do the winds say?"
Hawaii! Hawaii! and the strong
voice of the MALE blossoms and the
gentle voice of the sugar cane. can
hear the bread fruit call, Come and
eat Oh, friends of the canoe,
awake! Hear the land voices! Hear
the wind that has no salt in it.!
Awake and hear Hawaii"
A shout of JOY was heard from all
the boats, and they began to row
hard for the blue haze of land out
lined by the dawn.
Then Paao began to sing his most
sacred song, known only to the priests
of the highest order. He chanted the
poem of Kumu-Honua "the first man
created" The story of the flood
He sang of the praying One" who
had twelve sons, the youngest of
whom wandered into strange lands
and found the "water of life" with
which he gave life to his dead broth
ers. He sang of the two priests, who
led the common people through "the
Red Sea of Kane" and through the
desert lands to land of peace. He
rehearsed his own geneology and sang
praises to the gods of his own native
land, Samoa. He unwrapped two
stone gods that he had brought from
his temple in Upolu and vowed eternal
allegiance to them in his new home.
These stone gods were afterwards
worshiped in the temple of Moohini
in Hawaii and are now in the museum
at Honolulu.
The legends of these people con-
tanned many bible stories. They also
had cities of refuge as did the child
rem of Israel in the land of Canaan.
Paao andhislpeople were gladlyreceiv-
ed by the natives of Hawaii and soon
attained a powerful influence over
them. Kapawa, the native king was a
cruel tyrant and his people were
seeking for leader to help them
throw off the yoke.
Paao had built temple and set up
his gods in jungle near Hilo. 1t
was approached by only one trail,
and only one ambassador was allow
ed to visit it at time, and that in the
night.
The leaders of the revolt desiring
to have advice of the gods decided
to consult the oracle of Paao. So
they sent a man one dark night to
the temple. Paao's temple stood on
a lava bed and was connected with
many dismal caves. The priest re-
ceived his visitor in his most gor-
geous robe, made from the feathers of
the iwi bird. Paao led his friend
through many dark, gloomy places.
Sometimes a dim light would reveal
the strange, weird features of his
idols, then all would be dark, while
the floor would tremble under their
feet. There is seldom any thunder
and lightning in Hawaii, but Paao
had brought from Samoa drum
with which he could initiate thunder.
The chief was so unneryed by the
awful sights and noises that he fell
into a swoon. When he revived
Paao told him that the gods had
spoken favorably that Kapawa should
be overthrown. When Paao was
asked if he would not take the king
dom he replied: 1.-THE gods will
bring king from affair.""
Among the Samoans the kings and
priests never meddled with one an
others affairs. The king ruled the
people in political matters and the
priest in religious. And no one who
could not trace his ancestry back to
the beginning Of time could either
become king or priest. There was
no one Of the royal blood in Paao's
company, so he would have to send
back to samoa to get king. Paao