Chapter XXXIV: Canto VII

Hawaii is a cock-pit, on the ground the well fed cocks fight; The chiefs fight, the dark-red [cock] the bird awake at night for battle; The young man fights bravely, Loeau the son of Keoua. 220. He sharpens his spurs, he picks up something; He scratches in the ground of this Hilo, On the sand of Waiolama. He plants the soldier’s standard, the dust is raised on high as in a whirlwind; Quickly flows the perspiration on the brow of Laniulimahiia; 225. That he might secure the battleground of Mokuohai, robbed at Keei; That he might collect the property staked, at the sand beach in Hauiki. There was a chief, this was a chief; the stake was the island. There [at Keei] the property was staked, the game was played to utter loss. He strikes the goal, he counts double, he quickly counts what he has gained. 230. ’Tis he who staked the land, he claps his hands, he is the chief who staked the island. That chief was Kauikeaouli, this chief was Kalaninuilanimehameha, He is the person who caused the flight. Did he flee secretly, did he vanish in darkness? Did he gain a secret hiding place? No, 235. He fled at noon, while the sun was high. The small man saw him and the large man; The tall man saw him and the short man At the camp ground of Akahipapa. Thou gavest up thy life, thy death; 240. The south land and the north are gone; There they are now lost, grudge not to yield them, dispute not, hold not back. Give up to him what he has gained, with his joy, That his followers may be glad, the high officers of trust. He is a well fed fowl, the chief is a finished man. 245. Warmed in the fire-house until the stiffened feathers rattle; Of varied colors, like the many colored paddles, like the piles of kauila timber. The feathers rise and fall when the cock spurs; The cock spurs south and then spurs north, ’Till one great spur blow of itself 250. Hits the head, he flees, much wounded. The chief bites like a dog, he scratches the ground like a fowl; The foot scratches, the soft dust flies upward, It sweeps past, the dust is raised in frequent whirls toward heaven. The dust in great clouds appears from the mountains, in yellow flames the red dirt passes to the sea. 255. Like the coming of a red shower, so is the soldier’s person, the chief. He is the chief, the son of a chief. Is the chief the soldier that he should take pleasure with the holua? Will he talk deceitfully to please the deceived ones? They are boasters who occupy the house; 260. Those boast without cause who enjoy the island. A multitude of parents will waste, holding what the mind has proudly laid up; They eat at leisure, sitting on their hams, in small and in large houses. The full supplied plate is the wooden plate. The high raftered sleeping house with shelves across, 265. The long house, the eating house of women. They spread down the rushes; upon them they spread the mat; They lie with heads on pillows raised in dignity. The fly-brushes at the door wave to and fro, the door is shut, the black kapa is drawn up. Run, hide a little in quiet sleep, dismiss fatigue and care. 270. They take their siesta, ’tis silent where noises are forbidden. If they sleep two and two, double is their sleep. Pleasant is food of large landed men. In parrying spears the chief was strong, breaking their points was sweet. Pleasant in the season of fish or food, when he is filled with both. 275. Thou art satisfied with food, thou common man; To be satisfied with lands is for the chief. He says, “I will eat, I will consume the sweet remnants. The bundles of food around the country.” The thoroughly baked food of the island; bring here, 280. Bring here, let the chief eat.