34 BUKEATJ OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bdll. 38 



[Translation] 



Altar-Prayer 



Laka sits in ber sliady grove, 

 Stauds on her terrace, at Mo'o-lielaia ; 

 Like tlie tree of God Ku on Mauua-loa. 

 Kaulaua-ula trills in my ear; 

 5 A whispered suggestion to me, 

 Lo, an offering, a payment, 

 A eulogy give I to thee. 

 O Laka, incline to me ! 

 Have compassion, let it be well — 

 10 Well with me, well with us both. 



There is no stint of prayer-song. While the offering rests on the 

 kuahii, the joyful service continues: 



Mcle Kiiahu 



E Laka, e ! 



Pupu we'uwe'u e, Laka e ! 

 E Laka i ka leo ; 

 E laka i ka loaa ; 

 5 E Laka i ka waiwai ; 



E Laka i na mea a pan ! 



[Translation] 



Altar-Praj/er 



O goddess Laka ! 

 O wildwood bouquet, O Laka ! 

 O Laka, queen of the voice ! 

 O Laka, giver of gifts ! 

 5 O Laka, giver of bounty ! 



O Laka, giver of all things ! 



At the conclusion of this loving service of worship and song each 

 member of the troupe removes from his head and neck the wreaths 

 that had bedecked him, and with them crowns the image of the god- 

 dess until her altar is heaped with the offerings. 



Now comes the pith of the ceremony : the novitiates sit clown to 

 the feast of ai-lolo, theirs the place of honor, at the head of the table, 

 next the kuahii. The ho'o-'pacu acting as carver, selects the typical 

 parts — snout, ear-tips, tail, feet, portions of the vital organs, espe- 

 cially the brain ilolo). This last it is which gives name to the cere- 

 mony. He sets an equal portion before each novitiate. Each one 

 must eat all that is set before him. It is a mystical rite, a sacrament; 

 as he eats he consciously partakes of the virtue of the goddess that is 

 transmitted to himself. 



