CHAPTER II
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HOW AUKELENUIAIKU FELL INTO THE PIT OF KAMOOINANEA, AND HOW HE PROFITED BY IT.
We will here see how Aukelenuiaiku got into trouble and how he escaped the terrible death intended for him by his cruel and merciless brothers. As Aukelenuiaiku was falling down the pit, the angry brother called out: “Say, Kamooinanea, here is your food; eat him up.” While he was calling, one of his younger brothers, a kind one, came up running and called down the pit, saying: “Say, Kamooinanea, don’t eat him up, for he is your own grandson, Aukelenuiaiku, that is being thrown down.” After Aukelenuiaiku had fallen into the pit his older brothers were much pleased, believing that they had now gotten rid of him; that he was really dead; and their father’s promise on him would be unfulfilled, and become utterly void.
When Aukelenuiaiku reached the bottom of the pit, he found two men already there, having been thrown into the pit but a short time before this, by the cruel brothers of Aukelenuiaiku. When the two men saw Aukelenuiaiku, they took pity on him because he was so handsome and pleasant to look upon, having a perfect physique, and being without blemish. While the two were talking together, Aukelenuiaiku heard them and so he asked them: “What are you two talking about?” They answered: “We are expressing our regrets because we pity you.” When Aukelenuiaiku heard this he asked them: “And why?” The men replied: “Because of the death by the great lizard, Kamooinanea.” Aukelenuiaiku again asked: “When will the lizard come forth?” The men replied: “When the tide rises and falls, then rises and falls again, and when it comes up the third time, then the lizard comes up with it; then we will all be killed.”
Some time after this conversation, the lizard, Kamooinanea, made its appearance, and called out: “Say, Aukelenuiaiku, let me have one of the men for food.” Aukelenuiaiku said: “If I were to give you one of these men, who will attend to my wants in this lonely place?” The lizard then disappeared from their sight. When they saw the lizard and how terrible it looked they were sore afraid, and the two men began to show signs of uneasiness. After the lizard had disappeared from their sight, the men said to Aukelenuiaiku: “How wonderful! here this lizard is acquainted with your name. This is the first time that the lizard has not come and devoured its prey outright. We were told that immediately the lizard made its appearance, it would come and devour its victims; but here we see that we are safe for a time. Should it disappear altogether, we will escape death.”
While the men were still conversing the lizard again made its appearance and called out: “Say, Aukelenuiaiku, let me have one of the men.” Aukelenuiaiku again refused, saying: “No, you cannot have one of them.” When the lizard heard this it said: “You must give me one of the men. What are you going to pay me for coming here? Because you have been given to me to be killed and that I should devour you, but since I have found out that you are one of those that have gone out of my own body, I cannot eat you up.” When the lizard concluded, Aukelenuiaiku gave his consent, for he thought within himself that the request of his lizard grandmother, Kamooinanea, should be granted. He then gave one of the men to the lizard. As soon as the man was offered, he was swallowed whole. After this first man was consumed the lizard again asked that the second man be given her. Aukelenuiaiku again gave the second man, and he too was swallowed whole. After the second man was consumed there was left only Aukelenuiaiku. The lizard then came out of the sea and laid on the dry sand.
The lizard then said to Aukelenuiaiku: “Go and bring me two ape [68] leaves.” When Aukelenuiaiku returned with the ape leaves he placed them in front of the lizard. The lizard then vomited onto the two leaves until they were covered over, and then it said to Aukelenuiaiku: “My grandson, look on these two leaves.” Aukelenuiaiku obeyed and looked on. The lizard then continued: “Here are two lands on these two ape leaves, a large land and a small land; a warm and hot land, and a cold land. These two lands, [69] however, Holaniku and Holanimoe, are very beautiful lands and they possess everything necessary for the comfort of mankind; they possess food, fish, sugar-cane, potatoes, bananas, awa, breadfruit and all other things good to eat. Where I direct you there you must go.”
At the close of the remarks the lizard said to Aukelenuiaiku: “Now lie down.” Aukelenuiaiku obeyed and laid down. The lizard then held her grandson by the waist and said: “My grandson, you will yet be the cause of the death of your older brothers, and shall be king over them all; because they have ill-treated you.” The lizard then continued, saying: “This land, however,” pointing to one, “during six months is lighted and during six months it is in darkness; don’t go there, for you will be killed: because, before you come to this land you will have to cross a green sea; after that is passed, you will come to a red sea; don’t go there, for you will get killed; because in the days before I was married I traveled over this land, and now I am old, yet I have not completed its entire circuit. The name of this land is Kalakeenuiakane (Asia, [70] according to the foreigners). The mountains are so high that the stars appear on them, and there are very few people living on it. The owner of the land is Namakaokahai, a chiefess, and she has four brothers: Kanemoe, Kaneikaapua, Leapua and Kahaumana. She has two servants, Upoho and Haapuainanea. Those who guard and watch over the land are Moela, a dog, and three birds, Manuea, Kiwaha and Halulu. These are all the people who live on the land; there are not many, because the people are devoured by the ghosts.”
At the end of the remarks of the lizard to Aukelenuiaiku, she made a box to hold the god of Aukelenuiaiku. After the box was built she put the god into it, who was Lonoikoualii, [71] and said to Aukelenuiaiku: “With this god you will conquer and become possessed of the land that I have just described. Here is your food and meat; it is a laukahi. This leaf is wholesome; as soon as you touch it to your lips your hunger is satisfied; and when satisfied you can go without eating for a period of four months.” The grandmother then took up an axe and a knife and put them into the box. The lizard next cut off its tail and gave it to the grandson, saying: “This is my real body, which you must take with you. Here are also my pau of feathers and my feather kahili which shall act as your preserver when you meet your cousin. With these things in your possession—that is, by wearing the pau and holding this kahili you will cause your enemies to fall and turn into ashes.” The lizard then explained the uses of all the different things to her grandson, and she also taught him how to preserve these things of magic; but she did not tell him the name of the cousin. She was Namakaokahai.
When Aukelenuiaiku disappeared their father showed great grief for him and he mourned for his son for many days. Because of his great grief he refused to take food. After suffering for days he expressed a wish to die. But the mother of Aukelenuiaiku did not think that her son was dead, and she refused to listen to her husband, to fast and to mourn for their son. She was certain that Aukelenuiaiku was not dead, and that her lizard mother, Kamooinanea, had not devoured him. In discussing with her husband as to the prospects of their son being eaten up by the lizard she said: “If she has eaten him, who is my own issue, then she should have eaten me up first, and after that, my son. I tell you now that Aukelenuiaiku is there down below being educated by his grandmother in all things, and he is not dead. He will yet return to us here above.” These words of the wife all came true.
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