ow HAWAIIAN ROMANCE OF LAIEIKAWAI [ETH. ANN. 83 
rare in Hawaii, at least, or the notes of birds—he reads an augury of 
divine indwelling. The romances glow with delight in the startling 
effect of personal beauty upon the beholder—a beauty seldom de- 
scribed in detail save occasionally by similes from nature. In the 
Laieikawai the sight of the heroine’s beauty creates such an ecstasy 
in the heart of a mere countryman that he leaves his business to run 
all about the island heralding his discovery. Dreaming of the beauty 
of Laieikawai, the young chief feels his heart glow with passion for 
this “red blossom of Puna” as the fiery volcano scorches the wind 
that fans across its bosom. A divine hero must select a bride of 
faultless beauty; the heroine chooses her lover for his physical per- 
fections. Now we can hardly fail to see that in all these cases the 
delight is intensified by the belief that beauty is godlike and betrays 
divine rank in its possessor. Rank is tested by perfection of face and 
form. The recognition of beauty thus becomes regulated by express 
rules of symmetry and surface. Color, too, is admired according to 
its social value. Note the delight in red, constantly associated with 
the accouterments of chiefs. 
3. ANALOGY: ITS PICTORIAL QUALITY 
A second significant trait in the treatment of objective life, 
swiftness of analogy, affects the Polynesian in two ways: the first is 
pictorial and plays upon a likeness between objects or describes an 
idea or mood in metaphorical terms; the second is a mere linguistic 
play upon words. Much nomenclature is merely a quick picturing 
which fastens attention upon the special feature that attracts atten- 
tion; ideas are naturally reinforced by some simple analogy. I 
recall a curious imported flower with twisted inner tube which the 
natives call, with a characteristic touch of daring drollery, “the 
intestines of the clergyman.” Spanish moss is named from a promi- 
nent figure of the foreign community “ Judge Dole’s beard.” Some 
native girls, braiding fern wreaths, called my attention to the dark, 
graceful fronds which grow in,the shade and are prized for such 
work. ‘These are the natives,” they said; then pointing slyly to the 
coarse, light ferns burned in the sun they added, “these are the for- 
eigners.” After the closing exercises of a mission school:-in Hawaii 
one of the parents was called upon to make an address. He said: 
“As I listen to the songs and recitations I am like one who walks 
through the forest where the birds are singing. I do not understand 
the words, but the sound is sweet to the ear.” The boys in a certain 
district school on Hawaii call the weekly head inspection “ playing 
the ukulele” in allusion to the literal interpretation of the name for 
the native banjo. These homely illustrations, taken from the every- 
day life of the people, illustrate a habit of mind which, when ap- 
plied for conscious emotional effect, results in much charm of formal 
