CHAPTER V.

Body of Kawelo Placed on the Structure for Decomposition.—Kawelo Revives and Is Aided by His Caretakers.—They Agree to Resist the King’s Emissaries.

When Kawelo had been placed on the frame [1166] of the structure, those who were to keep watch over the corpse of Kawelo retired and rested a few days, because they were much exhausted from the previous encounter. But before Kawelo had been placed on the platform of the structure, he was wrapped up. The manner of its preparation was like the rolling up of a tobacco bundle, though not exactly, for he was laid out at full length and placed on top. [1167] The rope with which it was fastened was wauke rope. The king, Aikanaka, had previously instructed the guards, who were the sister and the brother-in-law of Kawelo, saying: “Whilst he remains on the platform of the structure, this is my behest to you two: Take good care of the corpse of the deceased until two ten-day [1168] periods have gone by, when I will know that the body of the chief has become decayed. I shall dispatch a messenger hither to make inquiries concerning the body of Kawelo, and you will inform him.” “It is agreed,” the guards said. The king then withdrew with his men and the companion of Kawelo during his early childhood.

CONCERNING THE REMAINING OF THE GUARDS TO KEEP WATCH OVER THE CORPSE.

Whilst they were residing and keeping vigil over the deceased, when four days had elapsed since the placing of Kawelo on high, and who had begun to decompose, [1169] as the skin of the man was seen to burst open, they started to light a fire, because they were short of fish. They had, however, plenty of vegetable food. As to the fire they had kindled, it was obtained from one of the woods, since fire was not then commonly known. Their fire having been lighted and the kukui-nut [1170] having been cooked, they sat down to eat; after which they laid down to sleep. They heard the thump of the bundle, and though they thought that its occupant was dead, yet it was still living. The wife said to the husband: “Go over and examine your brother-in-law; perhaps the rope has given way.” The husband replied, “Maybe it is a ghost; I am afraid.” The wife spoke: “You just simply go and peep, and then come back.” “All right,” the husband answered.

Whereupon the husband ventured, trembling on account of fear, and peeped in. But to his amazement, the corpse was shaking about in the covering, and the husband exclaimed to his wife: “Say, he is a ghost, for he is here shaking!” The wife ran over and, noticing it tremble, said to the husband: “Disengage him, you who have strong hands, and examine his injuries.” The husband unfastened it, but the wife had withdrawn, and he saw the body of Kawelo trembling. If the brother-in-law had perhaps then killed him, Kawelo would then have been forever done with! Not so! Pity possessed him, and [he] called to his wife: “Say, you! Come hither and let us give him treatment. He is alive.” The other responded and both massaged [1171] him.

But when they observed the skin was of different colors, being black and red. Perhaps the reason for the blackness was because of the continuous bruisings by the stones. Nevertheless, Kawelo was lifted and conveyed to the place they had started the fire, massaged and also warmed up near the fire; and they were up until midnight. Then the body of Kawelo gradually came out of that state of syncope, and he saw the others. He was assisted and sat up, though he was very feeble; he saluted and the others did likewise. After they had spent a sleepless night, and somewhere between daybreak and the approach of daylight, they noticed that the body of Kawelo was slowly recovering. It was not like that before in excessive darkness of color. He had resumed his usual appearance.

Kawelo said: “You two are perhaps the only ones up here to guard me. Is there no one else?” The woman replied: “Yes, we are alone. I never thought of watching over you, but it became necessary since I saw that you were of my blood, because the older brother of my father [1172] is your father. Therefore, my pity for you welled up, and I besought the king that I keep watch until you decomposed, when you were to be sent for and your bones stripped.” Kawelo spoke on: “Was there no other instruction of the king to you?” The former answered: “There was instruction indeed. This is his behest; that we should watch over you until two ten-day periods elapsed, when he would send a man hither who was to be informed by us of your state, and he was to return and report to the king, who would then come up and strip all your bones.”

Kawelo said: “How many anahulus are yet left, [1173] when some one of them shall come to inquire?” “There are only four days more, [1174] when they will come up.” Then he instructed his brother-in-law to draw up the ladder, because it was the place where the body had been placed. It was on a hill, all the points of which were unscalable [1175] by men, because it was steep on all sides, and only by way of this ladder could those who desired to inspect this hill reach it. Immediately the ladder was drawn up and placed on the top; Kawelo said: “Listen! If in the course of staying, one from below should be sent hither, and should call out to let down the ladder, do not consent. Instead, say to him that only with strength can the top be reached.” “It is agreed,” the brother-in-law replied.

They lived on and four days passed by. On the fifth day Kawelo, however, being asleep, the brother-in-law espied the man who had come up and began to weep. When the wife heard the wailing of the husband, she said: “What are these tears for?” The other answered: “Why question you regarding these tears; they are for death. Ill-fate will soon come.” Not very long afterwards, the one that had been sent to inquire after the corpse of the deceased called out: “Lower the ladder that I may ascend to examine the body of the dead one.” The other replied with fear: “The ladder will not be lowered for you. Only with the greatest strength can the top be inspected.” The man replied: “Whence, indeed, is that power of resistance of yours? I supposed you were stationed to care for the corpse, but lo! you two are placed to resist. What of it, anyhow? I am going back and report this action of yours to the king; I will explain that the corpse of Kawelo cannot be obtained, except only with force shall it be secured.”