Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-07-27
:cT. M|CHAEL'S COLLEGE,
I. Santa Fee. New Mexico.
: The 47th Year Begins Sept. I, 1908.
: RR0. H0TULPM, Proskdenf.
Folklore Tales Of Old Hawaii;
Facts About Leper Settlement
Legend of the Cocoanut Tree and Story of the Val
ley of Rain Told in Special Correspondence
to The Optic.

Especial correspondence OF The Opiicl
Honolulu, June 29.--Hawa'' abornds
IN folklore and weird legends. The
land IN believed TO swarm with gnofnes
and fairies. and the water with
nymphs and monsters. The simple.
minded native. whose grandfather
would have backed away from a pair
Of pants like a mustang shying at new
harness, tell us that the god OF the air
carries around the wind In a calabash.
He solemnly relates that an immense
bird once laid an egg In the ocean.
which in time was Matched by the
tropic winds. and thus the Hawaiian
islands were created.
One OF the prettiest legends Is that
Of the cocoa tree. The story goes that
a beautiful princess was very much
beloved bv one Of the chiefs who was
n noted athlete. He tried to please her
IN every way. swimming the lakes and
bringing her rare flowers and choice
fruits from the other side OF the Is
land, but she would not listen to his
suit. He found life not worth living
without her and expired from the pain
OF his u~nreqnited affection. Before he
died he said to the princess: THE
time will surely come when you will
kiss me OF your free will"
Years afterward, while the princess
was walking one day by the beach.
her attention was attracted to a beau
tifnl towering tree OF a new and
strange variety. It's tufted head nodded
proudly in the wind and her eager
gaze was conferred upon Its delicious
fruit. An attendant procured one OF
the great. green nuts for her. and as
she was In the act Of raising 1t to her
lips to drink the milk she heard a
voice say: DO you embrace me with
you own free will?" The spirit OF the
prince had taken the form OF the
cocoanut tree.
The Valley Of Rain.
Another legend coneerns the fair
valley Of Manoa. the place Of daily
rain. 1t was here, In the long ago. that
n lovely princess was murdered by her
lover because he thought she had be.
trayed him to q god. The maiden was
really innocent OF the charge, and
rather than take revenge for her
murder the gods decreed that n gentle
rain should fall daily in the place
where she had died. the sparkling
drops Of moisture representing the
tears OF the angels and the graces oil
the departed maiden, This valley Il
n OF most fertile In the region o.
Honolulu. all owing to the fact that thu
memoir OF the gentle princess IL KEEP
green by the constant fall Of rain.
Still another story deals with tn
cause Of the reverence which Ii showi
the hog. This animal was not Away
a lowly beast content TO root In III
mud and forage for the sake OF 1t
appetite. II once had the power t
roam the possessions Of kings and liv
upon the milk Of the land On
bold ruler came to grief by sendin
HIS followers forth to give hattie !
the hog and destroy It. When AZ
proached the animal seemed docil
enough and was led away an nnresis'
ing captive. When the god--for tn
hog was really that In those old day
Judged he had gone n proper dii
lance, he suddenly turned and tore hi
captors TO pieces. After this he wa
treated like a hero and for centurie
was regarded as one Of the country
greatest warriors. This yarn abou
the hogs prowess as a fighter. II
takes a notion. has been handed dow
to posterity as a warning TO all pc
o n to approach this much priced an
NAL with caution.
Why the Volcano Cooled. >.
Another pretty good legend is thu
concerning the fire GODDESS. who live
In a volcano She was the most bea,
tiful woman on the earth. and vet sh
kept alive the blazing hell thf
smoldered in the belly OF IN
mountain, threatening the lives
all the Inhabitants roundabout. Or
day she took a journey TO