Page:Fairytales•Tregear•1891.pdf/11



One of the most famous chiefs of the South Sea Islands long ago was Rata. He was of a most daring and adventurous character, always longing to see foreign lands, so, determining to go away on an exploring voyage, he set out to search for trees fit to form the hulls of a great double canoe. These double canoes were formed by two single canoes fastened together side by side, but with a space between, this space being decked over and a house or houses erected thereon. In such canoes long voyages were made, as they were almost impossible to overturn however strong a gale might be blowing. Rata took his best and most valuable axe, and flinging it over his shoulder proceeded to the forest, glancing about here and there to find the kind of tree of which he was in search. He discovered the suitable timber and was preparing to fell it when his attention was drawn aside by a commotion taking place among the branches of the shrubs near him. There he saw a fight taking place between a lovely white heron and a huge water snake of the kind which