456 Foniander Collection of Hcnuaiiaii Folk-lore. 



arrow, and Mainele has hit ten rats with his arrow. The bat should not be counted as 

 it is not a rat." Pikoiakaalala replied: "That bat should be counted as a rat, as I have 

 hit it with my arrow, and according to the old saying, which is as follows: 



The bat in the stormless season 



Is your younger brother, O rat, 



Make a squeak. 



There you are, it is a rat," said Pikoiakaalala to Mainele, the chiefs and all the people. 

 So Mainele and the king, Kaulamawaho, were beaten. Therefore we can see plainly 

 tliat the sisters of Pikoiakaalala, lole and Opeapea, were rats. 



As Pikoiakaalala was very htingry lie disappeared from the people who had gath- 

 ered at this place and returned to his sisters, where he found the pig and food cooked. 

 Before he sat down to eat Pikoiakaalala addressed the people, saying: "I want you all to 

 understand that I have certain rules in connection with my meals. There must be no 

 talking, no whispering, no nodding, no pinching and no noise of any kind should be 

 heard until I finish xa.y meal." He then reached for a piece of pork and a dish of potato, 

 taking one bite of each which he swallowed; he then reached for another piece of pork, 

 almost finishing the pig, and all the food of the oven. At this one of the men remarked: 

 "He eats like a god." On hearing this Pikoiakaalala stopped eating. His brothers-in- 

 law then said: "Why don't you go on eating?" "No, I have had enough." "Yes, we 

 already heard your rule," said his brother-in-law^ In this one meal partaken by Pikoi- 

 akaalala, he grew into a large and fine looking man, but his hair was [like] rat's hair. 



When Pikoiakaalala disappeared from the queen and the people after the con- 

 test, the queen was greatly worried ; so a proclamation was issued calling the chiefs 

 and common people together, the aged, those whose ej'es had become dim; those who 

 were bent with age, excepting those whose skin had become ^-ellow [with age], those 

 who were sick and those who staggered and fell. This call for a universal gathering 

 was made in order to find Pikoiakaalala. When the people were gathered Pikoiaka- 

 alala was not recognized as he stood among them as he had grown larger after partaking 

 of that one meal ; for at the time he had his contest with Mainele he was but a mere boy. 

 He was, however, later on recognized by means of his great skill at shooting rats. 



Among the people gathered was an aged woman whose eyes were dim and had grown 

 small till they looked like those of a rat. When Pikoiakaalala saw her, he shouted out: 

 "See that big rat! What a large rat!! It is not afraid of the people. My arrow will hit you! 

 My arrow will hit you!" 



CHAPTER II. 



A.s Pikoiakaalala was shouting, Mainele and the chiefs heard it, so Mainele 

 spoke up: "You are a deceiving man. Where is the rat that will come into this great 

 assembl}' of people? You are the greatest of liars." 



"A rat ! A rat ! " continued Pikoiakaalala. Mainele replied : "Let us make a 

 wager." In this new wager the king and queen again took part; the king backed up 

 Mainele while the queen supported Pikoiakaalala. As soon as the wager was decided 

 on, Pikoiakaalala made ready to shoot. Before his arrow left the bow, however, Mai- 

 nele remarked: "If the actual rat is hit then the wager is won and Pikoiakaalala can 



