124 Bernicc P. Bisliop Museum — Bulletin 



The boy cried out with a loiul voice, and the stranger with the kuina- 

 kapa. who was Kanaloa, gave power to ]iini to resist his father and he 

 asked. "In wliose name will you kill me, and to whom will you sacrifice 

 me?"' 



Wakua replied, "I shall kill you in the name of Hina-puku-ia, and I 

 shall sacrifice )ou to Kane and Kanaloa." 



The boy stood before his father, saying, "Aloha, will you look at my 

 body? What part of it is like a fish, or like food, that you sacrifice nie to 

 Hina-puku-ia and Hina-puku-ai ? Neither has i)ower over the body of 

 man." 



These words troubled Makua, for he knew that his son was right, and 

 that he should not kill him nor throw him into the fire in the name of the 

 Hina. So he decided to do it without calling on them, for he was angry 

 that his son had disobeyed him. He tied the boy with a rope. 



The strangers, seeing the boy tied, gave him power to call out, so 

 that his father would have compassion on him, "O Mother ! I am to be 

 burned today in the fire, and shall go into your presence with a body 

 burned by fire. Why did not my father kill me while I was yet small? 

 He has allowed me to grow up, and now wishes to slay me. O Mother! 

 Come and rescue me. I am bound up. I shall be killed with an adz, and 

 shall be thrown into the fire. I shall die today." 



These words caused Makua to weep. He could no longer conceal his 

 love for his son because the boy's prayers had recalled fond memories. 

 He kissed his son and said, "Alas, my son, I cannot refuse to do what T 

 have promised the gods in return for their wonderful .gifts." 



So saying, he placed the boy on the ground and taking his stone adz, 

 prayed, "I am fulfilling my promise to you by sacrificing my only son. 

 Receive this sacrifice, and grant me in turn life which shall never cease." 



Having finished this prayer, Makua struck at his son with the adz, but 

 he could not strike him. Three times he missed his aim. the adz falling 

 to the ground, each time. Failing to kill the boy, Makua untied him and 

 hurled his body against a great stone. Three times he did this and each 

 time the boy was unharmed, having no mark even upon his body. .\s the 

 angry father seized him the fourth time, Kane called out, "Makua, stop! 

 Do not touch the lx)y again. Your gods will pardon your sin. There 

 is a law among your gods that if a man tries three times to keep his 

 promise and fails, the sin will no longer be held against him. But if he 

 tries the fourth time, then the sin will be his own. So we command you 

 to take your child into the house and, before we eat. pray to your gods 

 for a blessing on this food, and thank them for not allowing you to kill 

 your only son." 



