434 Fornandei- Collection of Haivaiian Folk-lore. 



after death, so that mortal man should never get access to them or be able to desecrate 

 them. When Kualii was dead, and the body, according to cnstom, had been dissected 

 and the flesh burned, the kahu carefully wrapped the bones up in a bundle and started 

 off, as everj'body thought, to hide them in some cave, or sink them in the ocean. In- 

 stead of which, he repaired to a lonely spot and there pounded up the bones of the dead 

 king into the finest kind of powder. Secreting this about his person, the kahu returned 

 to court and ordered a grand feast to be holden in commemoration of the deceased. 

 Immense preparations were made, and the chiefs from far and near were invited to at- 

 tend. The night before the feast the kahu quietly, and unobserved, mixed the pow^- 

 dered bones of the dead king in the poi prepared for the morning's feast. At the close 

 of the meal the following day the kahu was asked by the chiefs present if he had faith- 

 fully executed the wishes of the late king regarding his bones. With conscious pride 

 at his successful device, he pointed to the stomachs of the assembled company and re- 

 plied that he had hidden his master's bones in a hundred living tombs. The legend 

 does not say how the guests liked their repast, but the kahu was greatly applauded." 



