WHALING VOYAGE. 
251 
and carried away by the multitude ; but his neighbours 
stood around Kinau, with their hearts ready to burst with 
grief, and with their minds filled with astonishment at 
the choice of Nahi, which had fallen on the best person 
in the village instead of the worst, which was the usual 
custom— for there was even a bye-word among them, 
which was made use of to persons of bad repute, “ Ah, 
you w T ill serve for the fire, you will serve for the fire !” 
meaning that the person so addressed, would serve for 
the purpose for which Tuanoa had been taken. When 
the sounds of the frenzied multitude had passed aw r ay, 
and had left the valley of Menoa again to its solemn 
quietude, and there was only heard at intervals from out 
of the group which still surrounded the bereft and 
senseless maid, the low murmur, or the sorrowful ex- 
clamation for the departed king, and the sorrows of the 
divided lovers ; Kinau opened her discoloured eyes, 
and shot them around the group, but saw not Tuanoa. 
“ Ah !” she exclaimed, “ half of my soul has expired ; 
friends and neighbours, go- — stay not with Kinau —the 
sun no longer shines upon her tarro-patches,* the water 
of the mountain has also turned from their roots, and 
has fallen into the lands of Nahi !” 
Her kind neighbours did all they could to comfort 
her in her great affliction, and then left her under 
the care of her aged parents. Nature soon overcame 
the infirm pair with sleep, and Kinau left her home, 
never more to return except with her beloved Tuanoa. 
* Shallow ponds of water, in which the tarro is cultivated with 
great care, similar to those in which rice is grown. 
