ufficiently to be turned before
he would be back. Being so serviceable to the aliis, kukinis always
enjoyed a high degree of consideration, freedom, and immunity from
the strict etiquette and unwritten laws of a Hawaiian court. There
was hardly anything so valuable in their master's possession that
they could not have it if they wished.

Eleio was sent to Hana to fetch awa for the King, and was expected to
be back in time for the King's supper. Kakaalaneo was then living at
Lahaina. Now, Eleio was not only a kukini, but he was also a kahuna,
and had been initiated in the ceremonies and observances by which he
was enabled to see spirits or wraiths, and was skilled in medicines,
charms, etc., and could return a wandering spirit to its body unless
decomposition had set in.

Soon after leaving Olowalu, and as he commenced the ascent
of Aalaloloa, he saw a beautiful young woman ahead of him. He
naturally hastened his steps, intending to overtake such a charming
fellow-traveller; but, do what he would, she kept always just so
far ahead of him. Being the fleetest and most renowned kukini of
his time, it roused his professional pride to be outrun by a woman,
even if only for a short distance; so he was determined to catch
her, and he gave himself entirely to that effort. The young woman
led him a weary chase over rocks, hills, mountains, deep ravines,
precipices, and dark streams, till they came to the _Lae_ (cape)
of Hanamanuloa at Kahikinui, beyond Kaupo, when he caught her just
at the entrance to a _puoa_. A puoa was a kind of tower, generally
of bamboo, with a platform half-way up, on which the dead bodies of
persons of distinction belonging to certain families or classes were
exposed to the elements.

When Eleio caught the young woman she turned to him and cried: "Let
me live! I am not human, but a spirit, and inside this inclosure is
my dwelling."

He answered: "I have been aware for some time of your being a
spirit. No human being could have so outrun me."

She then said: "Let us be friends. In yonder house live my parents
and relatives. Go to them and ask for a hog, kapas, some fine mats,
and a feather cloak. Describe me to them and tell them that I give all
those things to you. The feather cloak is unfinished. It is now only
a fathom and a half square, and was intended to be two fathoms. There
are enough feathers and netting in the house to finish it. Tell them
to finish it for you." The spirit then disappeared.