Page:The International Folk-Lore Congress of the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, July, 1893.djvu/343

 Rh up the green husk, he hurled it back into its place in the spathe, and the fruit was restored on the palm as before.

If the Fish-god desired a half-grown nut, he merely shouted, "Let there be a half-grown cocoanut!" and lo! a half -grown nut was there. When he had plucked the fruit, husked it, and taken out the nut, he put together the green husk and hurled it back into its place in the spathe, and the fruit was restored as before. Toroa-of-the-big-head acted in exactly the same way when he wished for a fully-grown nut, or one with delicious soft pith in the cavity usually filled with "milk."

The greeting of the Fish-god to Tamaro was after this fashion: "Come, see my wives." The visitor asked, "Where are they?" "Not far away," was the response. At this Tamaro entered the beautiful dwelling to inspect the interior. The sides of it were entirely covered with fish-hooks of all kinds and sizes, that had at different times been carried away by struggling fish. Amongst them he espied the hooks he had lost in that day's fishing; hooks lost in the fishing of the day previous; also the hooks lost during preceding days, months and years. Tamaro said, "Let me take away my fish hooks." The Fish-god replied, "Make a selection and take them only." Tamaro accordingly picked out all the best to carry back with him.

The mortal visitor now inquired of Toroa-of-the-big-head, "But who are your wives?" "Fish," was the reply. "What sorts of fish?" asked Tamaro-the-Terrible. "The Albacore, the Jew-fish, the King-fish," etc., etc. Tamaro now asked permission to carry one away. The Fish-god said, "Yes, if you can pluck out its eyes; my fish are not to be just caught by the hand."

By this time the sun had set and the sons of Tamaro had gone home (without their father). It was about this time, too, that Tamaro was astonished to see all kinds of fish enter the Fish-god's dwelling to sleep. When it was quite dark the larger sorts arrived and came to the side of Toroa-of-the-big-head to rest; some on his body, and others on his arms. And so the night was passed in sleep. At the first glimmer of morning light all the small fish, of many kinds, went on their travels. When the sun rose and it was daylight, the