owledge of some ancient
strife between religious sects, of which the former
represented the worshipers of fire and the latter those with
whom water was the principal element worthy of adoration."
(Abraham Fornander, The Polynesian Race, pp. 51, 52, Trubner
& Co., London.)]

The likeness to be found between the amphibious Kama-pua'a
and the hog appeals picturesquely to one's imagination in
many ways. The very grossness of the hog enables him
becomingly to fill the role of the Beast as a foil to Pele,
the Beauty. The hog's rooting snout, that ravages the
cultivated fields; his panicky retreat when suddenly
disturbed; his valiant charge and stout resistance if
cornered; his lowered snout in charge or retreat; his curling
tail--how graphically all these features appeal to the
imagination in support of the comparison which likens him to
a tidal wave.
[Page 233]

XXXIV.--THE HULA OHELO

The hula _ohelo_ was a very peculiar ancient dance, in which
the actors, of both sexes, took a position almost that of
reclining, the body supported horizontally by means of the
hand and extended leg of one side, in such a manner that
flank and buttock did not rest upon the floor, while the free
leg and arm of the opposite side swung in wide gestures, now
as if describing the arch of heaven, or sweeping the circle
of the horizon, now held straight, now curved like a hook. At
times the company, acting in concert, would shift their base
of support from the right hand to the left hand, or vice
versa. The whole action, though fantastical, was conducted
with modesty. There was no instrumental accompaniment; but
while performing the gymnastics above described the actors
chanted the words of a mele to some Old World tune, the
melody and rhythm of which are lost.

A peculiar feature of the training to which pupils were
subjected in preparation for this dance was to range them in
a circle about a large fire, their feet pointing to the
hearth. The theory of this practice was that the heat of the
fire suppled the limbs and