Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 28, 1917.djvu/127

 Collectanea. 95

So thus they did, and after some days Kae found himself ashore upon the island inhabited by Kanivatu, the great bird of wondrous size. Faint was his heart as he saw the nature of the isle, for stranded there were eight great whales and sword-fish (?) innumer- able. And not at the sight of these alone did Kae's spirits droop, but he thought too of the bird Kanivatu, devourer of men. Yet that night he slept between two whales, and when Kanivatu came he crouched down and hid, and even whilst he marvelled at the monstrous size of the great bird he smiled as well, for here was a means whereby to return to the world of men.

And so on a day when Kanivatu was fluttering his wings in preparation for flight, he clung to its breast, as unknown to the mighty bird as if he had been but a flea. Then was Kae borne aloft and hither and thither, clinging fast, for they were yet over the open sea, but when he saw that they were close to a shore he let go at once, and came to land in Samoa, at a place that is called Alcana. The chief of the land, Jinilau, received him kindly, and had Kae been content to remain with him all had been well, but he was filled with longing to return to Tongatabu and tell the wonders he had seen.

Now Jinilau had two twin whales, Tonga and Tununga, who, fish as they were, were yet the offspring of a kinswoman of Jinilau. So Jinilau, learning of Kae's desire, ordered the two whales to come and take him to Tongatabu, and forthwith return them- selves. Not only so, but he bade the Samoa people bring gifts, and let not one who had dwelt his guest return empty-handed.

Then Kae boarded the whales and they sailed for Tongatabu ; but he harboured in his heart thoughts ill-requiting the kindness of Jinilau, and determined to kill the whales. Accordingly he told them to approach the shore at a shallow place, that they might be stranded whilst he called together the people. And the people came down and smote the whales, slaying Tununga, but Tonga, thanks to his own skill and prudence, escaped. At Kae's bidding Tununga was at once cut up and distributed to the chiefs of the various places, and cooked and eaten.

As for Tonga, he at last arrived back in Samoa, and when the waiting Jinilau, surprised that he should be alone, questioned him, he told the treacherous fate that had overtaken his dear