OF THE SOUTH SEAS 513 



He kept on angling with his hand in the hole, and 

 caught hold of a man's hand. The man leaped back 

 and broke his grasp, and cried : 



"Tui N'Kualita, spare my life and I will be your war- 

 god. My name is Tui Namoliwai." 



Tui N'Kualita answered him: 



"I am of a valiant people, and I vanquish all my 

 enemies. I have no need of you." 



The man in the eel's hole called out to him again : 



"Let me be your god of property." 



"No," said Tui N'Kualita; "the tapa I got from the 

 god Kadavu is good enough." 



"Well, then, let me be your god of navigation." 



"I 'm a farmer. Breadfruit is enough for me." 



"Let me be your god of love, and you will enjoy all 

 the women of Bega." 



"No, I 've got enough women. I 'm not a big chief. 

 I '11 tell you : you be my gift to the orero" 



"Very well; and let me have another word. When 

 you have a lot of ti at Sawau, we will go to cook it, and 

 will appear safe and sound." 



Next morning Tui N'Kualita built a big oven. Tui 

 Namoliwai appeared and signed to him to follow. 



"Maybe you are fooling me, and will kill me," said 

 Tui N'Kualita. 



"What? Am I going to give you death in exchange 

 for my life? Come!" 



Tui N'Kualita obeyed, and walked on the lovu. The 

 stones were cool under his feet. He told Tui Namoh- 

 wai then that he was free to go, and the latter promised 

 him that he and his descendants should always march 

 upon the lovu with impunity. 



