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Then, after many further embraces, they watched the strangers enter the small boats and row back to the great bird-ships. As Wakea stood there on the sand watching sadly, the chief stepped up quietly and pointed to a high point which looked over the jutting headland around which the ships were now passing. Wakea nodded quickly, followed the Chief and some of the people to the sun-painted high point. There they together watched the three ships move into the sunset, fading at last into the sea of beauty. Only then did they return to the village, and the great ships were nevermore seen by the tribesmen. Very quickly Wakea learned Polynesian. The people were amazed at the speed of his learning. As the long days passed, He began to teach the tribesmen. He told them of the One God who ruled the Heavens, who spoke through the volcanoes and who breathed on the ocean. To Him, war was not of His making, for His law was Love One Another. For Wakea they gave up war and the sacrifice of children which had kept down their populations so they would not overeat their islands. Then the men carried Him with them, taking Wakea from island to island so each one would meet the strange Fair God whose hands were miracles of healing. Many then were the songs of Wakea and many the legends, which down through the long vistas of time have been forgotten. Yet His name lias been never forgotten. |
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Wakea had one strange custom. Every morning before dawn He would rise and pray toward the dawn-star on some high point facing seaward. When they asked Him why He did this He said that even so would His friends be praying in go to next page |
