Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1915-03-19

upon the sand for no apparent rea-
son. They stopped their horse to
watch them-there seemed to be
myriads of the tiny creatures, and in
their frenzied motions they flashed in
the bright sunlight, making bril-
liant sight. The American COM
mented upon it, for he mad never
seen anything like it before. But
the Hawaiian shook his head as he
looked at the mass of moving color.
at is a bad omen," he said. 1.-The
Queen will be dead before we get
back to Honolulu"
Nonsense" said the American.
What makes you think so? She
was almost we'll when we left"
The native pointed to the leaping
scarlet fish. at is a sign," he re-
piled, and would say no more, despite
the reiterated skepticism of the
white man.
The latter was much surprised
when they returned to the capital
to learn that the Queen had passed
away, even as the Hawaiian had
prophesied. 1t was long before the
wireless stations had given to the
islands instantaneous communication
with one another, no boat had passed
from the city to Mui, there was no
possible way in which the news could
have been carried by word of mouth.
1t was simply another case of ma
tive superstition. Strange things hap
pen in this land, as long ago Mark
Twain discovered
Countless legends concern that lake
of fire, Kilauea, the largest volcano
in the world. 1t is said that every
Hawaiian, educated or ignorant, as
he stands upon the brink of the era
ter, breathes prayer to Pele, the
goddess of their ancient faith. When
the white-hot lava rises high against
it's prison walls, they believe that
Pele demands a sacrifice. At the
time of the last illness of Queen
Likelike, Kalauea was dangerously
active, and when the Queen heard
of it she said that sacrifice was de.
manded, and she was to be de-
manded She died soon afterward anC
the native populace believed implicit
ly the truth of her words.
A royal funeral is an imposing ant
beautiful sight, as those persons will
/ agree who have been fortunate enough
/ to witness one. The lying-in-state O.
V the body in the former palace, the sol
? emn services, the waving kahills, Tho
f long, long procession passing through
5 the crowded, silent streets to the
= beautiful royal burial ground far on
/ on Nuanu avenues, form picture to b,
g remembered. Always it rains on sci
d day, say the Hawaiians.
n On the last occasion of the kind
g when Prince David was buried, TIL
weather had been unusually cleal
/ and beautiful, even for that land O
r bright sunshine, and all the day O.
:. the funeral it was fair. 1t seemed az
e in the ancient tradition was not to BIZ
e fulfilled. But just( as the cortegt
t reached the gates Of the cemetery {
= bank of clouds began to roll up over
= Punchbowl, the small extinct crater
[ just outside the city. and just as
= the body was laid to rest in the
5 massive mausoleum, the heavy rain.
1 drops fell-tradition was borne ou
9 once again.
Z, The rain has many legends and su.
} perstitions connected with it, since Il
r is such regular part of the daily
t life of Hawaii. 1t showers one min
l ute, the next the sun is shining
: brightly, while the rainbows that her
aided the downpour are still gleam-
ing across the blue sky. Countless
are the legends connected with the
bow of promise, and superstition has
much to do with them as well; the
time of their appearing is significant