236 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 38 



game of tiTne. The payment of these extreme forfeits was delayed 

 till a convenient season, or might be commuted — on grounds of policy, 

 or at the request of the loser, if a king or queen^by an equivalent 

 of land or other valuable possession. Still no fault could be found 

 if the winner insisted on the strict payment of the forfeit. 



The game of kilu was often got up as a compliment, a supreme ex- 

 pression of hospitality, to distinguished visitors of rank, thus more 

 than making good the polite phrase of the Spanish don, '' all that I 

 have is yours." 



The fact that the hula kilu Avas performed by the alii class, who 

 took great pains and by assiduous practice made themselves proficient 

 that they might be ready to exhibit their accomplishment before the 

 public, was a guarantee that this hula, when performed by them, 

 would be of more than usual grace and vivacity. AATien performed 

 in the halau as a tabu dance, according to some, the olapa alone took 

 part, and the number of dancers, never very large, was at times 

 limited to one performer. Authorities differ as to whether any 

 musical instrument was used as an accompaniment. From an allu- 

 sion to this dance met with in an old story it is quite certain that the 

 drum was sometimes used as an accompaniment. 



Let us picture to ourselves the scene: A shadowy, flower-scented 

 hall; the elite of some Hawaiian court and their guests, gathered, 

 in accord with old-time practice, to contend in a tournament of wit 

 and grace and skill, vying with one another for the prize of beauty. 

 The president has established order in the assembly ; the opposing 

 players have taken their stations, each one seated behind his target- 

 block. The tallykeeper of one side now makes the challenge. " This 

 kilu," says he, " is a love token ; the forfeit a kiss." An Apollo of the 

 oppositeside joyfully takes up the gauge. His tallykeeper introduces 

 him by name. He plumes himself like a wild bird of gay feather, 

 standing forth in the decorous finery of his rank, girded and flower- 

 bedecked after the manner of the halau, eager to win applause for his 

 party not less than to secure for himself the loving reward of victorj\ 

 In his hand is the instrument of the play, the kilu ; the artillery of 

 love, hoAvever, with which he is to assail the heart and warm the 

 imagination of the fair woman opposed to him is the song he shoots 

 from his lips. 



The story of the two songs next to be presented is one, and will 

 show us a side of Hawaiian life on which we can not afford en- 

 tirely to close our eyes. During the stay at Lahaina of Kame- 

 hameha, called the Great — whom an informant in this matter always 

 calls " the murderer," in protest against the treacherous assassina- 

 tion of Keoua, which took place at Kawaihae in Kamehameha's very 

 presence — a high chief ess of his court named Kalola engaged in a 

 love affair with a young man of rank named Ka'i-ama. He was 



