of _Ikua_ (December or January), a period of six months.

At this time they were startled by a violent storm of thunder and
lightning, and the rumbling of an earthquake. At the same time appeared
the marvellous phenomenon of eight rainbows arching over the mouth
of the cave. Above the din of the storm the parents heard the voice
of the awakened child calling to them:


"Let your love rest upon me,
O my parents, who have thrust me forth,
Who have left me in the cavernous cliff,
Who have heartlessly placed me in the
Cliff frequented by the tropic bird!
O Waiaalaia, my mother!
O Waimanu, my father!
Come and take me!"


The yearning love of the mother earnestly besought the father to go
in quest of the infant; but he protested that search was useless,
as the child was long since dead. But, unable longer to endure a
woman's teasing, which is the same in all ages, he finally set forth
in high dudgeon, vowing that in case of failure he would punish her
on his return.

On reaching the place where the babe had been deposited, its body was
not to be found. But lifting up his eyes and looking about, he espied
the child perched on a tree, braiding a wreath from the scarlet flowers
of the _lehua_ (_Metrosideros polymorpha_). "I have come to take you