22 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bdll. 38 



[Translation] 



Altar-Prayer 



Invoke we now the four thousand, 

 The myriads four of the nimble. 

 The four hundred thousand elves, 

 The countless host of sprites, 

 5 Rank upon rank of woodland sods. 

 Pray, Kane, also inspire us; 

 Kanaloa, too, join the assembly. 

 Now grows the ohi'a, now leafs ie-ie; 

 God enters, resides in the place; 

 10 He mounts, inspires, abides in the shrine. 

 This is our prayer, our i)Iea this for life ! 



CJiorufi: 

 Life shall be thine ! 



From one point of view these pule are not to be regarded as prayers 

 in the ordinary sense of the word, but rather as song-offerings, verbal 

 bouquets, affectionate sacrifices to the gods. 



