204 AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST [k. s. f i f 1S99
This was a rite of purification, after which they all put on new ma-lo and pa-u.
The next morning the festival began, and for four days no work was permitted. Land and sky and sea were tabu to Lo-no % and only feasting and games were allowed. The high-priest was blindfolded and remained in seclusion for five days. Meanwhile all the ko-no-huki (headmen) on the island had been getting ready the taxes of their respective lands, in anticipation of a visit from the long god who was now making a tour of the islands. The long god was preceded by a man carrying two long rods which he set up in the ground on arriving at the boundary of a land. The land was then under tabu or interdict, and no one could leave it until the tax was fully paid. The taxes were brought to the a-hu, and when the tax collector was satisfied, the priest chanted a prayer to Lo-no, the crowd joining in the responses,, closing with the shout Au-le e Lo-no! — when the land became no-a or free, and the long idol moved to the next land.
As evening came on, the people assembled from the surround- ing country to see the boxing-matches, etc., under the immediate patronage of the short god. For the next two days there were carried on all kinds of sports, such as boxing, wrestling, sliding down hill, throwing the mai-ka, foot-racing, etc., attended with general gambling and revelry.
On the fifth day, called Lo-no, the bandage was taken from the eyes of the high-priests, and canoes were allowed to go fishing for that day. The tabu was then resumed until the long idol re- turned, i. e., for about twenty days. On the evening of that day the Ka-lii ceremony was performed, as follows :
The king with a numerous company went fishing, taking the long idol with him. On his return, he was accompanied, by a warrior, expert in the spear exercise. As the king leaped ashore a man rushed forward with two spears bound with white kapa, and hurled one at him, which was parried, after which he simply touched the king with the other spear, and the
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