Laieikawai. 255
fall behind it in that respect, as you may see in all the battles of the Iliad. It appears to me that the prayer has a certain likeness to the straightforward petitions which are found in Homer, nor is it unde- serving of notice that the whole crowd of spectators, though bitterly lamenting the fate of one who had become their hero, make no attempt to prevent the mutilation of his body, apparently from a chivalric principle which holds it dishonorable to come between the victor and his rights.
Aiwohikupua reembarks, and coasting along, sees another numer- ous assembly, which also turns out to be a boxing-match. The fame of his mastery, however, has preceded him, and the chiefs, instead of combat, propose intimate friendship, an offer which he accepts. Still proceeding, he unexpectedly meets the seer of Kauai, who, in the course of his wanderings, was at that time resident on the coast of Hawaii. Unexpectedly he finds all things prepared for his recep- tion ; in fact, the seer was endowed with second sight. I now trans- late verbatim. On that evening, before the setting of the sun, the seer was sitting at the door of the house looking at the vapor resting on the clouds which were rising out of the sea, as is the custom of seers, and has been so from old times downward. He suddenly spake aloud : " The canoe of a chief this, nineteen men and a great chief ; it is also a double canoe." On hearing him those around him were startled, as they could see no canoe, and asked him : " Where is that canoe of yours?" "It is not a real double canoe," he replied; " I only saw in the cloudy vapor ; to-morrow we shall see a chief's canoe." During the night he had another and more distinct vision, and knew that it was the chief of Kauai who was approaching. He therefore made a sacrifice for his god. Being questioned as to these preparations he said : " I am making ready for my chief, him of whom I told you last night, and there is his double canoe on the sea, enveloped in the mist you behold." As Aiwohikupua approached the harbor, it thundered twenty times. 1 This brought the people together, and they saw the double canoe, the awning overhead, and the chief as the seer had foretold. As the canoe touched the shore the seer stood up, and offered prayer and sacrifice to the god of Ai- wohikupua. As he was thus employed, his chief recognized him, and was moved with strong affection toward him, and so soon as the prayer was over, told his counsellor to present the gifts to the gods. The seer ran, embracing the limbs of the chief, and leaning his head on the neck of the latter, begins to wail. In like manner, the chief embraces the shoulders of the seer, and wailing recounts his many virtues. When this ceremony was over, which is customary with
1 According to Myths ami Legends, here much less definite, he sacrifices with black pig, white fowl, and bunch of a-wa, after which follows the thunder.
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