Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review Volumes 32 and 33.djvu/59

thereupon as quickly as he cut down the weeds they sprang up again behind him. His father did the work over again, and reprimanded his son, but in spite of all, the boy, regardless of the tabu, continued to look behind, and at last his father in disgust told him to stop hoeing weeds, and to go and build a fire. Kijikiji had never seen fire, and asked his father what it was. Atalanga told him to go to yonder house, where he would see an old man sitting by a lire. He must get some of it, and bring it to prepare food. When Kijikiji entered the house he found there an old man whom he did not know, but who was Maui Motua, Atalanga's father. He asked for fire and received it, but as soon as he got outside he extinguished it, and returned for more. He again received fire, and again extinguished it outside; but on his entering the house the third time for fire the old man was angry; moreover, only one brand was left, a great casuarina log. Maui Motua, however, jestingly told the boy that if he could carry the log he could have it, never dreaming that he would be able to take it, as Maui Atalanga alone was able to lift it. Kijikiji, however, picked it up and started to carry it off with one hand. Maui Motua at once called to Kijikiji to put down his fire, and when the lad had obeyed he challenged him to wrestle. The challenge showed more spirit than wit on the part of the old man, for Kijikiji dashed him again and again to the ground, and leaving him for dead picked up the casuarina log and bore it off. When he reached his father Atalanga inquired what mischief he had been doing to Maui Motua that he was so long in coming, but Kijikiji merely replied that the fire kept going out, and so he had to return several times. Further questioning elicited information about the wrestling match and its fatal termination. On hearing this Atalanga felled his son to the earth with his spade, and covered his body with the grass called mohuku vai (water grass, literally). It is said that on account of having covered Kijikiji's body it does not die when cut out of the ground. Atalanga then went to see his father, and found that he had revived. The old man then for the first time learnt that it was his own grandson with whom he had quarrelled, and told Atalanga to pluck nonu leaves (morinda citrifolia), and place them on the body to bring