Rice — Hazvaiian Legends 23 



went in, and as soon as she had left the tree it grew smaller and smaller, 

 until it reached its original size. 



After watching the coconut tree disappear Kaanaelike saw a path which 

 she followed until she came to two guards keeping watch over a large stone 

 hollowed out like a huge pot. The guards urged this woman to depart 

 at once before their master came, for he spared neither man, woman, nor 

 child; all shared the same cruel death in the pot. 



Kaanaelike did not obey them but asked for her grandfather, Kuwahailo. 

 The guards replied, "You are asking for our lord. He has gone to hunt 

 for more victims to fill his pot. He takes any person he finds, old or 

 young, until his pot is full. He heats a huge stone until it is red hot, 

 then he rolls it into the pot, and so cooks his victims. You see all about 

 you the bones of many victims. Therefore, be advised, you who are 

 young and beautiful. If you wish to live return at once by the path you 

 came." 



But Kaanaelike was determined to see her grandfather and asked which 

 way he had gone. The guards said that he had gone to the East looking 

 for victims to hurl into his pot. Then the granddaughter asked where their 

 lord slept and they answered, "It is not known to us. His home is held 

 sacred. It is kapu for us, his servants, to go there. We have warned 

 you. Now depart if you wish to live." 



Still Kaanaelike questioned them : "When does your mighty lord 

 return ?" 



To this they answered that she would know, for the land would quake, 

 the trees would be bent over, and the wind would blow. First his tongue 

 would come with vtctims in its hollow. Then his body would follow. 



After Kaanaelike had heard all these things she followed a path which 

 led to a cave. In the cave was a pile of bones of chiefs whom the king 

 had eaten. Nearby was a smooth stone used as a pillow by the king. The 

 queen was becoming very weary and so she rolled up her sacred pa-u, and 

 using it as a pillow, lay down on the mats to rest. Suddenly she felt the 

 earth quake and heard the wind blowing. Then she remembered that 

 these were the signs of the coming of her grandfather. 



When Kuwahailo reached his guards he called out in a loud voice, "I 

 smell the blood of a mortal !" 



In fear the guards answered, "We have seen no one pass by. Someone 

 may have passed behind us. We saw no one as we were busy guarding 

 the pot." 



The angry king said, "If you lie to me I shall eat you both !" Then 

 he looked to the east, and west, and south. He saw no one. As he turned 



