Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review Volumes 32 and 33.djvu/60

48 it to life again. This was done, and the lad recovered. This species of nonu does not grow in this world, but only in heaven and the Underworld. Then the two of them ate food, and prepared to return to the upper air. Atalanga, fearful of his son's mischievous propensities, wished him to go on ahead, but Kijikiji finally prevailed in his insistence that his father should lead the way. As they set off Kijikiji seized a burning brand to take with him, hiding it behind his back. Presently his father came to a standstill, and said, "Where's that smell of burning? Are you bringing any fire with you?" "No," answered the boy, "it's probably the smell from the place where we cooked our food." The father seemed scarcely convinced, but they resumed their journey. Presently he turned round again; "Boy, where is this smell of fire from?" "Don't know," responded Kijikiji. "Boy, haven't you brought some fire with you?" again asked Atalanga. Just then the father saw smoke from the fire which his son was concealing, and rushing at him he snatched the brand and extinguished it, bitterly upbraiding Kijikiji for his disobedience and mischievousness. Then they ascended to the upper world, but all unknown to his father the end of Kijikiji's loincloth was ignited, trailing behind him out of sight. On reaching the surface of the earth Atalanga went on ahead and hid to see if his son had brought anything up from below, and when Kijikiji emerged he saw the smoke from the burning waistcloth. At once Atalanga called on the rain to fall, but, although a copious downpour ensued, the boy was not to be outdone, for he cried to the fire to flee to the coconut-tree and the breadfruit-tree and the hibiscus and tou (cordia) and all the trees. This is the manner in which fire was introduced amongst men who had previously eaten their food uncooked, and because the fire resides in the trees it is obtained by rubbing one stick on another.

[Vaváu is the northernmost of the three groups which comprise the Tonga Islands.]

Maui Atalanga and his son then returned to their home Atalanga, and lived there. It happened that one day Maui