Sacred Texts  Pacific  Index  Previous  Next 

p. 6

THE SECOND ERA.

FIRST VERSE.

The first child born of Powehiwehi (dusky night)
Tossed up land for Pouliuli (darkest night),
For Mahiuma or Maapuia,
And lived in the land of Pohomiluamea (sloughy hill of Mea);
Suppressed the noise of the growth of unripe fruit,
For fear Uliuli would cause it to burst, and the stench
To disagree and turn sour,
For pits of darkness and pits of night.
Then the seven waters became calm.
Then was born a child (kama), ’twas a Hilu and swam.
The Hilu is a fish with standing fins,
On which Pouliuli sat.
So undecided seemed Powehiwehi,
For Pouliuli was husband
And Powehiwehi his wife.
                                Fish.
And fish was born, the Naia (porpoise) was born in the sea and swam.
The Mano (shark) was born, the Moana was born in the sea and swam.
The Mau was born, the Maumau was born in the sea and swam.
The Nana was born, the Mana was born in the sea and swam.
The Nake was born, the Make was born in the sea and swam.
The Napa was born, the Nala was born in the sea and swam.
The Pala was born, the Kala was born in the sea and swam.
The Paka (an eel) was born, the Papa (crab) was born in the sea and swam.
The Kalakala was born, the Huluhulu was born in the sea and swam.
The Halahala was born, the Palapala was born in the sea and swam. p. 7
The Pea (starfish) was born, the Lupe was born in the sea and swam.
The Ao was born, the Awa was born in the sea and swam.
The Aku (bonito) was born, the Ahi (same kind) was born in the sea and swam.
The Opelu (same as above) was born, the Akule was born in the sea and swam.
The Amaama (mullet) was born, the Anae (large kind) was born in the sea and swam.
The Ehu was born, the Nehu was born in the sea and swam.
The Iao (used for bait) was born, the Aoao was born in the sea and swam.
The Ono (large fish) was born, the Omo was born in the sea and swam.
The Pahau (striped flatfish) was born, the Lauhau was born in the sea and swam.
The Moi was born, the Loiloi was born in the sea and swam.
The Mao was born, the Maomao was born in the sea and swam.
The Kaku was born, the A'ua'u was born in the sea and swam.
The Kupou was born, the Kupoupou was born in the sea and swam.
The Weke was born, the Lele was born in the sea and swam.
The Palani was born, the Nuku Moni was born in the sea and swam.
The Ulua was born, the Hahalua was born in the sea and swam.
The Aoaonui was born, the Pakukui was born in the sea and swam.
The Maiii was born, the Alaihi was born in the sea and swam.
The Oo was born, the Akilolo was born in the sea and swam.

p. 8

SECOND VERSE.

               Fish and vine.
The Nenue was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Lauhue that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

THIRD VERSE.

               Fish and vine.
Man by Waiololi, woman by Waiolola,
The Haha was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Puhala that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

FOURTH VERSE.

               Fish and shrub.
Man by Waiololi, woman by Waiolola,
The Pahau was born in the sea;
Guarded by the Lauhau that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

FIFTH VERSE.

               Fish and shrub.
Man by Waiololi, woman by Waiolola,
The Hee was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Walahee that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

SIXTH VERSE.

            Sea and water fish.
Man by Waiololi, woman by Waiolola,
The Oopukai was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Oopuwai that lived in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

p. 9

SEVENTH VERSE.

                   Eel and tree.
Man by Waiololi, woman by Waiolola,
The Puhi kauwila was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Uwila that lived in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

EIGHTH VERSE.

                 Fish and bread-fruit.
Man by Waiololi, woman by Waiolola,
The Umaumalei was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Ulei that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

NINTH VERSE.

                   Eel and tree.
Man by Waiololi, woman by Waiolola,
The Pakukui was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by Laukukui that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

TENTH VERSE.

                   Eel and tree.
Man by Waiololi, woman by Waiolola,
The Laumilo was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Milo that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

p. 10

ELEVENTH VERSE.

          Fish and large tree.
Man by Waiololi, woman by Waiolola,
The Kapoou was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by Kou that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

TWELFTH VERSE.

        Fish and yam or Uhi
         (Impomea batatas).
Man by Waiololi, woman by Waiolola,
The Hauliuli was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Uhi 1 that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

THIRTEENTH VERSE.

Man by Waiololi, woman by Waiolola,
The Weke was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Wauke that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

FOURTEENTH VERSE.

          Fish and Awa
             (Kawa).
Man by Waiololi, woman by Waiolola,
The Aawa was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Awa that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

p. 11

FIFTEENTH VERSE.

            Fish and grass.
Man by Waiololi, woman by Waiolola,
The Ulae was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Mokae that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

SIXTEENTH VERSE.

Man by Waiololi, woman by Waiolola,
The Palaoa (sea-elephant) was born and lived in the sea;
Guarded by the Aoa that grew in the forest.
A night of flight by noises
Through a channel; salt water is life to fish;
So the gods may enter, but not man.

SEVENTEENTH VERSE.

The train of Palaoa (walrus) that swim by
Embracing only the deep blue waters,
Also the Opule that move in schools,
The deep is as nothing to them.
And the Kumimi (a crab) and Lohelohe (a locust) cling together
To the rolling motion of their cradle
On their path so narrow, so slim, to move,
Till Pimoe (a mermaid) is found in the depth of her cave,
With Hikawainui, and Hikawaina
Amongst piles of heated coral
That were thrown in piles unevenly,
So thin and scraggy in the blue tide.
Surely it must be dismal, that unknown deep;
’Tis a sea of coral from the depth of Paliuli,
And when the land recedes from them
The east is still in darkness of night,
                ’Tis night.


Footnotes

10:1 There are four varieties known to me--the Aura, Clisle, Pia, Manalo.


Next: The Third Era