Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 28, 1917.djvu/376

 344 '^^^^ Bird Cult of Eastei' Island.

These men, who were known as " hopu," went to the islet when the Ao went up to Orongo or possibly rather later. Each made up his provisions into a " pora," or securely bound bundle of reeds, he then swam on the top of the packet, holding it with one arm and propelling himself with the remaining arm and both legs. An incantation, which was recited to us, was said by him before starting. In one instance, the iviatua, at the same time that he gave the nomination, prophesied that the year that it was taken up a man should be eaten by a large fish ; the original recipient never availed himself of it, but on his deathbed told his son of the prophecy. The son, Kili- muti, undeterred by it, entered for the race and sent two men to the islet ; one of them started to swim there with his pora but was never heard of again, and it was naturally said that the prophecy had been fulfilled. Kilimuti wasted no regret over the eventuality, obtained another servant and secured the egg ; he died while the Expedition was on the island. The islet of Motu Nui is, as its name signifies, the largest, and is also the outermost of the three islets which lie off the coast of Rano Kao. It can only be reached in fine weather, and even then it is no easy matter to gain the particular ledge of rock where landing has to be made on the crest of a wave before the sea again retreats boiling and surging many feet below. Once landed, however, the surface is comparatively level and presents no difficulties. It is about five acres in extent and is covered by coarse grass which almost conceals the entrance to the cave in which the hopu lived while awaiting the coming of the birds ; the inside however is light and airy ;. it measures ninteen feet by thirteen, with a height of over five feet, and conspicuous among other carvings in the centre of the wall is a large ao more than seven feet in length. A line dividing the islet between Kotuu and Hotu-iti passed through the centre of the cave, and the hopu are said to have formerly kept to their respective