CHAPTER III

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THE RETURN OF AUKELENUIAIKU AND THE BENEFITS RECEIVED BY HIM IN FACING DEATH.

After all the various things had been mastered by Aukelenuiaiku he then climbed onto the back of the lizard and was lifted up out of the pit; and the lizard again disappeared down the pit. Aukelenuiaiku then took up the box that contained his god together with his club and carried them as he returned to the house. When Aukelenuiaiku reached the house his father and all the chiefs wept for joy.

We will here see how correct were the predictions of Kapapaiakea to her husband Iku, relating to Aukelenuiaiku’s preservation by the lizard. While Aukelenuiaiku was weeping with his parents, his brothers, who were out surf riding, heard the wailing and so asked: “For whom is this wailing going on?” “It is Aukelenuiaiku.” When the brothers heard that the wailing was because of the return of Aukelenuiaiku they were so ashamed that they concluded they would build them a ship and go to some foreign land. They then rode in on the surf and proceeded direct to the forest. After they had been in the forest for over two months, Aukelenuiaiku one day went up into the forest to catch him some birds. After he had caught and cleaned several birds he started a fire and then put them on the coals to roast. After the birds were cooked he sat down to his meal, and, while he was eating, his brothers came upon him and took away all the birds, leaving him nothing. After this the oldest brother, he with the violent temper, ordered Aukelenuiaiku to go and bring them some water. While Aukelenuiaiku was on his way for water he got up and followed him. While Aukelenuiaiku was busy filling the calabash with water the angry brother arrived and replaced the rock on the mouth of the water hole, shutting in Aukelenuiaiku and left him there to die.

After Aukelenuiaiku’s disappearance the brother returned to where the others were. When the brother who entertained some love for Aukelenuiaiku saw their oldest brother coming back, he asked: “Where is our brother?” The oldest brother replied: “I have not seen him, and he was not at the place where I went to.” After this the brother who wished to save Aukelenuiaiku got up and went out in search of him. In this search he went to their home, where he learned that Aukelenuiaiku had not returned. He then took up the loin cloth of his brother, and wore it round his neck [72] and wept. While he was weeping their father Iku heard it, and so he inquired: “Who is this weeping?” “I, Ikumailani.” “What are you weeping for?” “I am weeping for Aukelenuiaiku; he is dead.” When their father heard this he also wept.

After this weeping Ikumailani again proceeded up the forest in search of his brother. Before starting upon his mission their father said to him: “In case you should find your brother, bring him home here.” Before Ikumailani set out he said to their father: “I am going up; if you look and see a fire, remember I have found your son; but in case you don’t see a fire, then I have not found him.” After saying this, Ikumailani started out on his search. When he came up to the water hole he looked and saw that the mouth had been covered with a large rock. He then rolled away the rock and looked down into the hole, and saw Aukelenuiaiku standing there, thin and weak, having only enough strength left to be able to stand. Ikumailani then reached down for his brother and lifted him up; they then kissed each other and wept. After their weeping, Ikumailani started a fire, which was seen by their father, and he knew that Aukelenuiaiku had been found and that he was not dead.

After Aukelenuiaiku was found he was brought home to their father who fell on his son and wept for joy, as did all the others, for he had been lost for about eight days. Before Aukelenuiaiku was found, the ship of the brothers was completed and preparations were made for departure, as it had been launched. When the oldest brother saw that Aukelenuiaiku was again back safe and well, and that the wailing that he had heard was because of the return of Aukelenuiaiku, he immediately gave orders that the final preparations be completed; that the food be cooked, and after that everybody was to go aboard.

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