man, Erekona (young cocoanut) by name. His method of slaying was on this wise; if any one came near his dwelling, he would pleasantly call out, "Come in and get a drink of cocoanut water."[1] The unsuspecting victim enters, and when seated on the mat receives a young nut already husked.[2] Piercing "the monkey's eye," he drinks the refreshing beverage. To exhaust the contents, he necessarily holds the nut aloft and turns his eyes to the thatch.[3] In this unguarded moment the unpitying host snatches his wooden sword, and with one well-aimed blow severs the neck of his guest. In this way at various times many perished by the hand of Erekona.
One morning the sons of Tamaro passed the hut. Erekona, according to his wont, invited them to come in and refresh themselves. The lads accepted the invitation. To each Erekona gave a young cocoanut already husked and pierced for drinking. The sons of Tamaro were equal to the occasion. Being thirsty they gladly took the proffered nuts, but only one drank at a time. Erekona was greatly perplexed, for as soon as he extended his hand to grasp the wooden sword, finding his movements closely watched by the non-drinking lad, he hesitated to strike the fatal blow. And when that lad's turn came to drink, Erekona again felt about for his weapon. This did not escape the notice of the lad whose thirst had already been assuaged. Whispering to his brother, "Let us run!" they rushed through the doorway, but distinctly heard the muttering of Erekona, "Ha! you have narrowly escaped the oven and the cooking-leaves!"
The boys now went in search of their father to tell him what had happened. The father said to his sons, "Let us pay him a visit as if nothing had occurred." On seeing them, Erekona, as usual, invited them to enter, and gave to each a young
- ↑ In the Eastern Pacifies it is the correct thing for the owner of a dwelling to go outside and stand bareheaded shouting to the expected visitor to turn aside from the public path and enter the hut. The words used on such occasions at Mangaia are, Oi, na ko nee maira (Ho! come this way!)! Amongst common people it is enough for the owner of the hut without altering his squatting posture, to throw his head back by way of salutation and then utter the words of invitation. Another courteous salutation is, Come! come (Aere mail Acre mail)!
- ↑ This is still customary. Nothing is more refreshing to the traveller on a hot day in the tropics. Those who have only tasted the so-called 'milk' of an old cocoanut can form no idea of the refreshing qualities of a young cocoanut.
- ↑ Of course native dwellings are never ceiled. So if you ask a sick native how he passes the time the reply is sure to be "counting the rows of thatch!"
