carried far out into the sea, where they became the seafolk. Kuvokuvoe and Buabuaga, who dwell now amongst the floating spawn of the flying fish. And their deeds are not good but evil, for if a man who seeks the spawn sleeps on his canoe, being weary, the Kuvokuvoe lay hands upon him and drag him into the depths of the sea, and cause his death. It is also their light which thou mayest see at night far out to sea, and their voices which thou hearest as they call one to another when all is still in the night.
It came to pass that as the tree fell and the waters rushed forth those who stood by saw that the water which came out was of the colour of blood.
The Lavarata tribe, liking not the colour, cut down an ebony tree and scraped it until they had a heap of dark scrapings. On these they poured water and squeezed handfuls into the sea, which lost its red colour and became brackish. Then they cut down yet another tree and did in like manner, and the sea became blue in colour, and salt to the taste, even as it is to this day. Then the people said, "It is well."
Now it came to pass that when the waters of the sea rushed forth, they carried many of the fish with them. But the flying fish hid in the swamps on the shore. There the women found them, and being thus nigh at hand they fished for them every day, and went never to the gardens to weed. Therefore weeds were many, and the men who went to work at the gardens, as of old, saw that soon the food would be choked. Yet still the women fished.
