|
Walter E. Traprock - The Cruise of the Kawa
slipped between Kippy's fingers.
"I'll get it," I cried, making ready to dive, but she shouted a warning.
"Arani electi. Oki Kutiaa!"-"Look out! The snapping oysters!"
Gazing down through the crystal depths into which our bauble had fallen I saw a great gaping
kutiaa, the fiercest of crustacea, its shelly mouth slightly ajar, waiting for the careless hand or foot
that might come within its grasp. We let the pearl go and amused ourselves by sucking the eggs of the
liho, a bland-faced bird which makes its nest in the surface coral branches. [Footnote: The
liho is in many respects the most remarkable fowl in existence. It is of the gallinaris or hen-
family crossed with the male shad which causes the bird to produce eggs in unheard of quantity.] Here,
too, we laughed over the ridiculous ratatia, that grotesque amphibian who is built like a
ferry-boat, with a head at either end and swivel fins so that however he may move he is always going
forward.
From these diversions the sound of singing summoned us. The Judgment was about to take place. At top
speed we swam ashore and joined the crowd. For once I was glad that literature had no place in the
competition, so that Kippy and I were free to watch the proceedings.
Years ago I saw the ceremonial by which the British Government conferred on the Bahia of Persia the
title of "The Bab of Babs," but it was nothing compared to what I now gazed upon.
As far as the eye could reach stretched the crowd. Under a gorgeous dais of panjandrus leaves
respondent with alova blossoms sat Baahaabaa, on his right Captain Triplett, on his left
Hanuhonu, the ranking visitor, and all about retinues of nobles, with their superb families, groups of
dancers, slim and straight as golden birches, singers, orators and athletes. It was grand opera on a titanic
scale, with the added distinction of really meaning something.
Baahaabaa spoke first - in fact I think I may say that he spoke first, last and all the time. I can
conscientiously claim that he is the champion long-distance orator of the world. Ever and anon he gave
way to a guest but only for a moment.
"We are met," he said - I translate freely - "we are met to witness the emulation of friends." Could
anything be more delicate?
"We have with us tonight, in this corner, Wanooa-Potonopoa (Whinney), the Man with his Eye in a Box"
(this was plainly a reference to Whinney's camera) - "while in this corner, we have Mainaue Ahiiahi,
Tattooer-of-Rainbows. Both boys are members of this island."
The applause was enormous but Swank had the grace to rise and kiss his finger-tips toward the audience
which immediately put him on a friendly footing.
After a few more speeches by Baahaabaa the exhibits were unveiled. Of course, the result was foregone.
I must admit that Whinney's was not hung to advantage. The two pictures were placed against tufts of
haro at forty yards distance where, naturally, the detail of the photograph lost something of its
effectiveness. Swank's picture on the contrary blazed like a pin-wheel. The further you got from it the
better it looked.
A characteristic point in the competition was that Swank had introduced figures into his composition
|
