606 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 



the tiny land crabs (= karaii), and the medium-sized land 

 crabs (^=krikara) — in fact to crabs of all sorts and sizes that 

 crawl over the sandy soil — to come and fell the tree for their 

 canoe. So the crabs came, but not in sufficient numbers. 

 Observing this, the younger brother called to the crabs, even 

 as the elder brother had done. Vast multitudes now came at 

 the voice of the younger boy. The crabs [with their claws J 

 felled the tree, dug out the canoe, and finished it off. In a 

 single night the canoe was made and dragged to the sea. 

 When the task was finished the crabs came.back [from the 

 sea] to feast^ upon the delicious morsels prepared for them 

 [by the boys]. 



At daylight the twins paddled back to their mother, who 

 now desired them to go to the most distant part of the atoll. 

 If they saw on the sea abundance of drift-wood and rubbish, 

 it was not the right place. But if they came to a white 

 sandy beach — all glittering in the sun — it would be their 

 destination, the home of their father Tu, and of their sister 

 Ina, and of Tuherepunga. 



So the boys paddled on until they arrived at the place 

 indicated, and then landed. On coming to a spot near the 

 sea where fishbones and other refuse were thrown, they hid 

 their canoe by sinking it. Advancing now a little way, they 

 perceived a man, a girl, and a woman very like [their mother] 

 Rei, The man and the girl were in one hut, the woman in 

 another [close by] engaged in mat weaving.^ But the lads 

 were unseen by all three. 



The twins now changed their shape. They transformed 

 themselves into robber-crabs and crawled to the side of the 

 hut occupied by the woman, making the usual noise of those 

 crustaceans. The man called out to the woman, " What is 

 the noise outside?" The woman replied, "Don't you 

 perceive^ that it is only the crabs — of all sorts and sizes — of 

 this our island?" 



After awhile the noise was again heard, and the woman rose 

 and went outside to see. She found it was made by a couple 

 of fine robber-crabs. The delighted woman called out, 

 " What a treat* I have got ! " At this she secured them 



* Payment for work was usually made in food. The work must be done 

 ere the hungry carpenters taste the feast. 



"Mat-weaving was practised on Manihiki and Rakahanga from time 

 immemorial. Yet on some volcanic islands (notably Mangaia) this useful 

 art was unknown. 



3 A native answers a question by putting another. Tliis habit is universal. 



■'A great delicacy in the estimation of the islanders. 



