Hawaiian Folk Tales - A Collection of Native Legends by Various
page 40 of 265 (15%)
page 40 of 265 (15%)
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with medicines in Hawaii.
As has been said, diseases settled on the different islands like an epidemic, and the practice of medicine ensued, for Kamakanuiahailono followed them in their journeyings. He arrived at Kau, stopping at Kiolakaa, on the west side of Waiohinu, where a great multitude of people were residing, and Lono was their chief. The stranger sat on a certain hill, where many of the people visited him, for the reason that he was a newcomer, a custom that is continued to this day. While there he noticed the redness of skin of a certain one of them, and remarked, "Oh, the redness of skin of that man!" The people replied, "Oh, that is Lono, the chief of this land, and he is a farmer." He again spoke, asserting that his sickness was very great; for through the redness of the skin he knew him to be a sick man. They again replied that he was a healthy man, "but you consider him very sick." He then left the residents and set out on his journey. Some of those who heard his remarks ran and told the chief the strange words, "that he was a very sick man." On hearing this, Lono raised up his _oo_ (digger) and said, "Here I am, without any sign of disease, and yet I am sick." And as he brought down his _oo_ with considerable force, it struck his foot and pierced it through, causing the blood to flow freely, so that he fell and fainted away. At this, one of the men seized a pig and ran after the stranger, who, hearing the pig squealing, looked behind him and saw the man running with it; and as he neared him he dropped it before him, and told him |
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