CHAPTER IX
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HOW AUKELENUIAIKU AND NAMAKAOKAHAI SHOWED THEIR USEFUL THINGS.
In the preceding chapter of this story we were told of the axe and the knife, the two useful things belonging to Aukelenuiaiku. In this chapter we will speak of the cutting up of Namakaokahai by Aukelenuiaiku by the use of the axe. When Aukelenuiaiku began to cut up Namakaokahai with the axe, the feet were the first things that were cut off, and as this was done, Namakaokahai expressed great joy, for it was fun to her. Namakaokahai then said to Aukelenuiaiku: “Yes, you have a very useful thing indeed; cut off another portion.” When Aukelenuiaiku heard this he proceeded and cut off the calves of the legs, and this cutting was kept on until the head was also cut off from the body. In this cutting, the several portions of the body of Namakaokahai were completely severed and separated from each other, but the mouth never ceased speaking.
After the body of Namakaokahai had been cut up into several pieces, the head asked of Aukelenuiaiku: “Are these all the useful things my husband brought with him?” “Yes, these are all; and I am surprised at you, for when a person is cut up in this manner, death is certain.” Namakaokahai then replied: “If these are all the useful things you have, I will now show you what I have.” Saying this, the pieces began to get together of their own accord, and in a short space of time the body was again complete and restored as before. She then called for her four brothers, Kaneapua, Kanemoe, Leapua and Kahaumana. Upon their arrival the sister asked them: “What shall I change myself into? Shall it be into a cliff?” Her brothers then answered: “Yes, change yourself into a cliff.” At that very moment a great, high cliff stood before them, smooth and straight up and down, where the koae [80] was seen flying. Aukelenuiaiku looked at it and touched its smooth sides with his hands with fear and great excitement. He next saw Namakaokahai, his wife, standing on the very top of the cliff; then he saw her looking down at him, and she called: “What are you doing?” The husband replied: “I am admiring your supernatural powers. Your useful things together with mine will be a great inheritance for our child.” In making this reply, Aukelenuiaiku made believe that he was not afraid; but in fact he was almost overcome with fear.
While Namakaokahai was standing there on the cliff, she called out to her four brothers and said: “What shall I change myself into now? Shall it be into an ocean?” The brothers replied: “Yes, change yourself into a vast ocean.” At that very moment the whole cliff dissolved and turned into a great ocean, with its surface covered with mighty waves, so completely that nothing else could be seen. Aukelenuiaiku was at this time being engulfed by the water and he was sore afraid, but at the appearance of Namakaokahai and questioned by her, “What are you doing?” he replied: “I am admiring your great powers.”
After the ocean, Namakaokahai changed herself into a terrible fire and the land was enveloped in flame, covering the whole surface as far as the eye could see. Aukelenuiaiku was entirely surrounded by the fire, in the midst of which he saw his wife and heard her asking him, saying: “What are you doing, Aukelenuiaiku?” He replied: “I am still admiring your great powers and the fire.”
These three things, the cliff, the ocean and the fire were the three supernatural bodies of Namakaokahai, and she gave to her husband the power to change himself into these three different things. She, however, did not reveal her fourth form and power, the power to fly through space. The reason why she did not reveal this fourth power to her husband and did not wish him to possess it, was because she was afraid that he might take it into his mind to fly away and deprive her of him, so she thought she would keep this power to herself. [81] The brothers, however, did not approve of this, and decided to teach their brother-in-law secretly how to acquire this power. [82]
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