winning ten points made one the victor in the game, and,
according to some, entitled him to claim the larger forfeit,
[Page 236] such as was customary in the democratic game of _ume_. The
payment of these extreme forfeits was delayed till a
convenient season, or might be commuted---on grounds of
policy, or at the request of the loser, if a king or
queen--by an equivalent of land or other valuable possession.
Still no fault could be found if the winner insisted on the
strict payment of the forfeit.

The game of kilu was often got up as a compliment, a supreme
expression of hospitality, to distinguished visitors of rank,
thus more than making good the polite phrase of the Spanish
don, "all that I have is yours."

The fact that the hula kilu was performed by the alii class,
who took great pains and by assiduous practice made
themselves proficient that they might be ready to exhibit
their accomplishment before the public, was a guarantee that
this hula, when performed by them, would be of more than
usual grace and vivacity. When performed in the halau as a
tabu dance, according to some, the olapa alone took part, and
the number of dancers, never very large, was at times limited
to one performer. Authorities differ as to whether any
musical instrument was used as an accompaniment. From an
allusion to this dance met with in an old story it is quite
certain that the drum was sometimes used as an accompaniment.

Let us picture to ourselves the scene: A shadowy,
flower-scented hall; the elite of some Hawaiian court and
their guests, gathered, in accord with old-time practice, to
contend in a tournament of wit and grace and skill, vying
with one another for the prize of beauty. The president has
established order in the assembly; the opposing players have
taken their stations, each one seated behind his
target-block. The tallykeeper of one side now makes the
challenge. "This kilu," says he, "is a love token; the
forfeit a kiss." An Apollo of the opposite side joyfully
takes up the gauge. His tallykeeper introduces him by name.
He plumes himself like