the eel was to be thrown back into the stream, and the calabash then to be given to the king.
Uta was informed of the part she was to play, and enjoined to be careful. She went away to the stream, and soon returned bearing the calabash, with its opening carefully plugged up. She laid the calabash at the king’s feet. Tai told her she could start on her journey, bearing the calabash as a present for her parents and brothers; also that this calabash contained something very precious, for that it held the germ of a coco-nut tree, having most delicious fruit. Before this time the coco-nut had been unknown. The king added that she must be very careful as to the following things to be observed during her travels. She was not to turn aside from the path, nor to bathe, however tempting the waters of the stream might seem, nor to sit down, nor to put the calabash from her hand.
Uta started on her journey, and for a time observed all the directions; but when the sun was high at noontide she grew tired and heated, she forgot her promise, put the calabash down, and plunged into the cool waters of a mountain stream. Over her body ran the lovely ripples of fresh water, beading her hair with tiny spark-
