The festival consisted of a race for the first gull's egg deposited upon the islands of Mutu Rankan and Mutu Nui, mere volcanic rocks which peered above the surface a few hundred yards from the rocky shore of the island of Orongo. The object was to reach the island first, secure an egg, and bring it back in safety. The one who accomplished this was greeted by the entire community as a hero; and, more important yet, the return with the unbroken egg was supposed to bring with it the approval of the great spirit Meke Meke; and the fortunate one was the recipient of many gifts from his fellows throughout the ensuing year. There was keen rivalry among the young men and boys; and Kaitae had determined this year to be the first to discover gulls on the islands. Running down the slope of the volcano, past the great stone images weighing many tons, he made his way quickly to an observation tower, about thirty feet in height, resting upon a platform of rock over the tombs. of his people. Here, in the season, the men watched for turtles and signaled to their fellows. From the top of this lookout Kaitae gazed over the blue water. There were the little islands below him, and - yes, about them hovered numbers of white objects, the long-lookedfor gulls, which evidently had arrived during the night. With a joyous shout, Kaitae sprang down, and was soon bounding over the rocks to convey the news to the natives. At once they all came swarming out of 46 and the one who returned to him first with an unbroken egg would have the especial favor of the great spirit Meke Meke. The band of excited men and boys stood in various expectant postures, some with one foot in advance, others with arms eagerly stretched to the front, ready for the word from the king. Kaitae stood near his father, his eyes flashing, and determination expressed in every motion. He had decided upon a dangerous course. The cliff where the start was made was a precipitous, jagged wall rising far above the sea, and breasting it with a bold front. From it numerous paths led down to the water; and Kaitae knew that many a fierce struggle would take place to reach the water's edge. He had determined to take the cliff jump, a perilous feat that had not been attempted since the king, his grandfather, a famous athlete, had performed it when a boy. KAITAE REVERENTLY TOUCHED ONE OF THE GREAT STONE their stone burrows like ants, and before long " Finally, when all in line were in readiness, the king gave the signal, and on rushed the crowd of islanders with loud cries and shouts. Out from among them shot the form of a boy, straight as an arrow, his long, black hair flying in the wind. Not to the lower beach, not to the narrow trails made by his ancestors, but directly to the brink of the precipice. The At his word they were to start for the island, train of dusky figures paused breathless, and the king rushed forward to see Kaitae dive out into space and gracefully disappear into the depths below. Up he soon came, a black spot on the waters, and before the astonished natives could recover from their excitement he was far on his way to the island. Down the narrow trails worn in the lava swept the crowd, pushing one another over in their rush to the shore, diving, leaping, and hurling themselves into the sea in eager endeavor to reach the island. But Kaitae was far in advance; and before the crowd of eggseekers were half-way over he had gained the rocky point of Mutu Nui, and amid the threatening cries of the birds had clambered up. Dozens of speckled eggs were strewn about. Seizing one, Kaitae placed it in his mouth as the safest place, and, springing again into the water, was homeward bound. No one seemed discouraged because Kaitae was ahead. A hundred accidents might yet befall him. The current was strong against the return; the egg might break — it generally into the sea. Altogether it was a scene strange and exciting, even to the king who had witnessed every race for many years. Some of the men broke their eggs and were obliged to return, while others could not find any, and were pecked at and buffeted by the enraged birds that filled the air with their cries, and swooped down to avenge this intrusion. Kaitae reached the shore of Orongo well ahead of all except one man who had won the race more than once in former years — a daring climber, a rapid and powerful swimmer. But Kaitae drew himself up on the rocks carefully, that the egg might not be broken, then sped away up the face of the cliff. For days he had studied the steep ascent, and a score of times had scaled its rough face, but never before with a large egg in his mouth. When half-way up he was breathing hard. His mouth became dry and parched, and the egg seemed to be choking him. But still he held on, climbing higher and higher, spurred on by the shouts of his companions, who were now landing in large numbers. "KAITAE HELD OUT THE EGG, UNBROKEN, TO THE KING." did; he might slip on the rocks in the quick ascent; he might be injured, even killed-such things had been known. So the contestants swam on, and soon scores of dark forms could be seen crawling out from the water over the moss-covered rocks, slipping, sliding, falling; then darting this way and that in search of an egg. Having found one, each plunged quickly Varian One more effort, and he reached the top, and running forward, he held out the egg, unbroken, to the king. He was just in time, for his nearest rival, breathless Tahana, came rushing up the narrow trail, followed, a few moments later, by a score of disappointed contestants. As victor, Kaitae was the center of interest for the remainder of the day. Many gifts and favors fell to him, and he sat in the seat of honor next to the king at the dance and the merrymakings on that and succeeding nights. Kaitae was much more intelligent than many of his comrades, and while he joined in their games and pastimes he as much enjoyed listening to his elders when they related stories of the wonders of Waihu in the olden time. He learned that in those days the island was inhabited by many tribes of men, all under his ancestor the king; and that the curious platforms and monuments Island famous distinguished men; and that the platforms were tombs as much revered by the natives of the island as Westminster Abbey is revered by patriotic Englishmen. During the boyhood of Kaitae several strange ships bearing white men visited the island, and traded with the islanders. some difficulties occurred, and numbers of his people were killed; and once a horde of native enemies came in canoes, drove them to their hidden caves, destroyed their homes, and killed hundreds of the people. When Kaitae and his friends came out from their hiding-places they found the statues in many cases thrown down or broken in pieces, and the tombs destroyed. The heads of the images weighed tons, and many could not be replaced; and there they lie, to this day, prone upon the side of the great volcano. A descendant of King Kaitae, also bearing his name, is, or was a few years ago, still living at Easter Island-an old man, over eighty years of age, who delighted in talking to foreigners of the wonders of his native Waihu in ancient days. A few years ago an American man-of-war visited Waihu, and made a careful examination of the island. Among the many interesting relics brought to the United States was one of the ancient faces or heads by one of which Kaitae stood on the morning of his sixteenth birthday when he won the race; and readers of ST. NICHOLAS who visit Washington may see this great stone image, for it is exhibited in the National Museum. KAITAE'S DIVE. And he picked a big daisy to stick in his hat; The clovers he topped, And the toadstools he cropped, And sometimes he scuffled and sometimes he hopped. He took an old stick and poked at a worm, And merrily chuckled to see the thing squirm; When he chanced to look up, and in gorgeous array Triangular Tilly was coming his way. Triangular Tom straightened up in a jiff, And put on his best manner-exceedingly stiff; And as far as his angular shape would allow Triangular Tom made a beautiful bow. Triangular Tilly went smilingly by, With a glance that was friendly, but just a bit shy. And Tom so admired her A backward look over his I really admire that Triangular Tilly." |