Hawaiian Folk Tales - A Collection of Native Legends by Various
page 24 of 265 (09%)
page 24 of 265 (09%)
|
Sun's larger beams and broke it off. And thus he snared and broke off,
one after another, all the strong rays of the Sun. Then shouted he exultingly: "Thou art my captive, and now I will kill thee for thy going so swiftly." And the Sun said: "Let me live, and thou shalt see me go more slowly hereafter. Behold, hast thou not broken off all my strong legs, and left me only the weak ones?" So the agreement was made, and Maui permitted the Sun to pursue its course, and from that time on it went more slowly; and that is the reason why the days are longer at one season of the year than at another. It was this that gave the name to that mountain, which should properly be called _Alehe-ka-la_ (sun snarer), and not _Haleakala_. When Maui returned from this exploit, he went to find Moemoe, who had reviled him. But that individual was not at home. He went on in his pursuit till he came upon him at a place called Kawaiopilopilo, on the shore to the eastward of the black rock called Kekaa, north of Lahaina. Moemoe dodged him up hill and down, until at last Maui, growing wroth, leaped upon and slew the fugitive. And the dead body was transformed into a long rock, which is there to this day, by the side of the road. II.--THE ORIGIN OF FIRE |
|