Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/608

 2 60 Journal of A merican Folk-Lore.

last mentioned has his residence in the sun, his name signifying Sun-Eyeball. The youngest sister, Kahalaomapuana by name, but who may here be called by the translated title given by Dr. Rae, Breath of Many Flowers, undertakes a pilgrimage to heaven. She is carried on her lizard, who swims with her for four months, until at the ends of the sea she finds her uncle, who takes her to the place of ascent. He utters a call, and a ladder composed of spider's web is let down on which the lady mounts to the moon. Here dwells the aged man who is her father ; she follows directions, finds him asleep, leaps on his back and grasps his beard, then chants the mele of supplication in which she is instructed. She and her mother mount on a great bird, by whom they are carried up to the sun, where they find Noon acting as porter. Noon admits her, disperses the clouds, and she sees her brother, whose brilliant body gleams like flowing lava, asleep in the centre of the orb. He is awakened, accepts the proposal of Breath of Many Flowers, and his descent to earth is heralded by various signs. To Laieikawai, as betrothal present, he sends a rainbow robe. At rising of the full moon he descends, and the couple mount to heaven on a rainbow. Waka is killed by a thunderbolt, and Aiwohikupua reduced to merited poverty and scorn, being now placed in the tutelage of Breath of Many Flowers ; the sisters are made regents of the other islands, the king of Kauai and his wife being left undisturbed in their possessions.

One would think that the story might end here, with the heroine exalted, not merely to a throne, but to the central glory of the celes- tials. But apparently Hawaiian thought, like Hellenic, had little confidence in the permanence of sexual attachment. The Eye of the Sun, in the course of a tour of his earthly domain, casts eyes of desire at the fair sister of his wife, while the king of Kauai, on his part, roves after the beauty of Hana, who of the three rival ladies alone has not yet been mated. On this intrigue he descends to earth, and consoles the forsaken spouse. The jealous Laieikawai, by gazing in the bowl of knowledge, is able to observe the conduct of her husband, and reports his offences to the father and mother ! These descend on a rainbow, and pronounce sentence on Eye of the Sun, who is banished from heaven, and condemned to live on butter- flies as a wandering ghost. Breath of Many Flowers is exalted to his place, as heir apparent of the solar realm. Laieikawai, at her own petition, rejoins her sister on earth ; but the government of the group of islands is intrusted to the faithful prophet of Kauai. Laiei- kawai, it is to be presumed, gave birth to a child, for she continued to be adored by certain gentes under the title of The Lady of the Twilight.

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