966 JOHN FRASER. 
pected him and searched him, but could find nothing; they, however,,. 
searched him so unceremoniously that he felt himself insulted; and, when. 
he returned to his home and had planted the bit of ‘ taro,’ which grew 
well, he cried to his relatives and especially to his mother Earth for a. 
war of revenge. The best of Harth’s warriors assembled, and went up to 
the heavens, as if on a friendly visit. But the Sa-Tangaloa knew their: 
secret purpose, and tried to get the better of them by stratagem. And. 
first, as their duty was, they prepared food to offer to their visitors, but 
‘there was death in the pot,’ or at least in the plot; for the young gods. 
intended to attack them when they were all busy eating, and kill them. | 
The giants, however, outwitted them; for they prepared a meal for: 
themselves apart, and sent two of their own number to the place where 
was the food offered; to the astonishment of the Sa-Tangaloa, these 
brothers ate it all up, with the yoke and baskets as well. Hence they 
were justly called the ‘ Big-eaters.’ 
Next day brought another device. One of the Sa-Tangaloa came alone 
to try their skill in club-play, expecting to master every one of them;. 
for he had ‘eight livers’ of courage, and, strange to say, they were some- 
how attached to his body outside! But Moso, one of the giants, encoun- 
ted him, and forthwith made him sue for ransom to save his life. 
Next day another device. The Sa-Tangaloa caused a fresh in the 
river, and challenged their visitors to plunge in after them, and battle. 
with the stream. But one of the giants had placed himself in the mid-- 
dle of the river; and, when the bands of the Sa-Tangaloa came sweeping 
past, he seized them and held their heads under water till they were 
drowned; but, when any of his own friends came by, he lifted him out. 
and set him on the bank. 
Next day the Sa-Tangaloa had another scheme for the destruction of 
their visitors. The rain-makers brought down heavy torrents of rain, 
expecting to paralyse them with the force of the rain-drops and the cold; 
for the Polynesians shiver when exposed to rain, and run from it if they 
can find shelter. One of the giants, however, had furnished himself with 
wings and the feathers of birds; and, under these, like a huge mother- 
hen, he gathered his men and they were safe, while many of the Sa- 
Tangaloa themselves were killed by the rain. 
It was now evident that plotting was of no avail against the giants; 
so the Sa-Tangaloa resolved to try a pitched battle. But in it the giant 
Le-Fanonga, ‘ Destruction,’ encountered the whole host, and, as might 
_ be expected, he conquered and destroyed them. So the giants came off 
victorious in the strife and carried down to earth, for their own use, the 
