Ahuula: a Legend of Kanikaniaula and the First Feather Cloak

Eleio was a kukini (trained runner) in the service of Kakaalaneo, King of Maui, several runners being always kept by each king or alii of consequence. These kukinis, when sent on any errand, always took a direct line for their destination, climbing hills with the agility of goats, jumping over rocks and streams, and leaping from precipices. They were so fleet of foot that the common illustration of the fact among the natives was the saying that when a kukini was sent on an errand that would ordinarily take a day and a night, fish wrapped in ki leaves (known as lawalu), if put on the fire on his starting, would not be cooked sufficiently 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.

エレイオは、マウイの王カカアラネオに仕えるクキニ(鍛えられた走者)であった。位ある王やアリイはみな、いつも何人かの走者を抱えていた。このクキニたちは、用を言いつけられると必ず行き先へまっすぐな線を取り、山羊のような身軽さで丘を登り、岩や流れを跳び越え、断崖から跳び降りた。その足のあまりの速さを、土地の人々はこう言い表した。ふつうなら一昼夜かかる用にクキニを送り出すとき、出立のときに火にかけたキの葉包みの魚(ラワルという)は、クキニが戻るまでに、まだひっくり返せるほどにも焼けていない、と。アリイにとってかくも役に立つので、クキニはつねに高い敬意と自由を与えられ、ハワイの宮廷の厳しい作法や不文律を免れていた。主の持ち物のうちで、望んで手に入らぬほど貴いものはほとんどなかった。

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.

エレイオは、王のためにアヴァを取ってこいとハナへ遣わされ、王の夕餉に間に合うように帰ることになっていた。カカアラネオは当時ラハイナに住んでいた。さて、エレイオはクキニであるばかりかカフナでもあり、霊や幻を見ることのできる儀式と作法を授かっていた。また薬やまじないにも通じていて、腐りはじめてさえいなければ、さまよう魂を体に返すこともできた。

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.

オロワルを出てまもなく、アアラロロアの坂を登りはじめたとき、エレイオは前方に美しい若い女を見た。当然ながら、この心そそる道連れに追いつこうと足を速めた。けれども何をしても、女はいつも同じだけ先を行っていた。当代いちばんの俊足で名高いクキニであったから、たとえわずかな距離であれ女に追い抜かれることは、その道の誇りをかき立てた。そこで何としても追いつこうと心を決め、その一事に身を注いだ。若い女はエレイオを、岩、丘、山、深い谷、断崖、暗い流れを越えて疲れ果てるまで引き回し、やがて二人はカウポの向こう、カヒキヌイのハナマヌロアのラエ(岬)に着いた。そこでエレイオは、プオアの入口のところでようやく女を捕まえた。プオアとはたいてい竹で作られた塔のようなもので、中ほどに台があり、ある家柄や階層に属する身分ある者の亡骸を、そこに載せて風雨にさらしたのである。

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."

エレイオが若い女を捕まえると、女は振り返って叫んだ。「生かしておいてください! わたしは人間ではなく霊です。この囲いのなかがわたしの住まいなのです。」

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

エレイオは答えた。「おまえが霊であることは、しばらく前から分かっていた。人間にわたしをこれほど引き離せるはずがない。」

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.

すると女は言った。「では友になりましょう。あちらの家にわたしの両親と親族が住んでいます。行って、豚と、カパと、上等な敷物と、羽根の外套を求めてください。わたしの姿を言い表して、これらのものはみなわたしがあなたに贈るのだと告げてください。羽根の外套はまだできあがっていません。今はまだ一尋半四方で、二尋にするつもりのものです。仕上げるだけの羽根と網は家にあります。あなたのために仕上げてくれるように言ってください。」そう言うと霊は消えた。

Eleio entered the puoa, climbed on to the platform, and saw the dead body of the girl. She was in every way as beautiful as the spirit had appeared to him, and apparently decomposition had not yet set in. He left the puoa and hurried to the house pointed out by the spirit as that of her friends, and saw a woman wailing, whom, from the resemblance, he at once knew to be the mother of the girl; so he saluted her with an aloha. He then said: "I am a stranger here, but I had a travelling companion who guided me to yonder puoa and then disappeared." At these strange words the woman stopped wailing and called to her husband, to whom she repeated what the stranger had said. The latter then asked: "Does this house belong to you?"

エレイオはプオアに入り、台によじ登って、娘の亡骸を見た。霊が現れたときと寸分たがわず美しく、まだ腐りはじめてはいないようだった。エレイオはプオアを出て、霊が身内の家だと教えた家へ急いだ。すると泣いている女がいた。顔だちの似ていることから、すぐにそれがあの娘の母だと分かったので、アロハと挨拶した。それからこう言った。「わたしはここではよそ者ですが、道連れが一人いて、あちらのプオアまで案内してくれたあと、姿を消してしまいました。」この不思議な言葉に女は泣くのをやめ、夫を呼んで、よそ者の言ったことを繰り返した。すると夫が尋ねた。「この家はあなたのものですか。」

Husband and wife, wondering, answered at once: "It does."

夫と妻はいぶかりながら、口をそろえて答えた。「わたしたちのものです。」

"Then," said Eleio, "my message is to you. My travelling companion has a hog a fathom in length in your care; also a pile of fine kapas of Paiula and others of fine quality; also a pile of mats and an unfinished feather cloak, now a fathom and a half in length, which you are to finish, the materials being in the house. All these things she has given to me, and sent me to you for them." Then he began to describe the young woman. Both parents recognized the truthfulness of the description, and willingly agreed to give up the things which their beloved daughter must have herself given away. But when they spoke of killing the hog and making an ahaaina (feast) for him, whom they had immediately resolved to adopt as a son, he said: "Wait a little and let me ask: Are all these people I see around this place your friends?"

「では」とエレイオは言った。「わたしの言づけはあなたがたに宛てたものです。わたしの道連れは、あなたがたに預けた一尋の長さの豚を持っています。またパイウラの上等なカパの束と、ほかにも質のよいものを。敷物の束と、今は一尋半の長さの、できあがっていない羽根の外套も。それを仕上げていただきたい、材料は家にあるから、とのことです。これらのものをみな、あの人はわたしに贈り、受け取りにあなたがたのもとへ行かせたのです。」それからエレイオはその若い女の姿を語りはじめた。両親はともにその言い表しが正しいことを認め、愛する娘自身が与えたにちがいないものを、進んで手放すことに承知した。けれども二人が、豚を殺してアハアイナ(ごちそう)を作ろうと言い——二人はすぐにもエレイオを息子として迎えようと心を決めていた——そう言ったとき、エレイオは言った。「少し待ってください。お尋ねしたい。このあたりに見えるこの人々はみな、あなたがたの身内ですか。」

They both answered: "They are our relatives--uncles, aunts, and cousins to the spirit, who seems to have adopted you either as husband or brother."

二人はともに答えた。「みなわたしたちの親族です。あなたを夫としてか兄弟としてか、迎えたらしいあの霊にとっての、叔父、叔母、いとこたちです。」

"Will they do your bidding in everything?" he asked.

「その人たちは何事につけあなたがたの言うことを聞きますか」とエレイオは尋ねた。

They answered that they could be relied upon. He directed them to build a large lanai, or arbor, to be entirely covered with ferns, ginger, maile, and ieie--the sweet and odorous foliage greens of the islands. An altar was to be erected at one end of the lanai and appropriately decorated. The order was willingly carried out, men, women, and children working with a will, so that the whole structure was finished in a couple of hours.

二人は、頼りにできると答えた。エレイオは、大きなラナイ、すなわち東屋を建て、それを羊歯とショウガとマイレとイエイエ——島々の甘く香る緑の葉——ですっかり覆うようにと指図した。ラナイの一方の端には祭壇を築き、ふさわしく飾ることになった。この言いつけは進んで行われ、男も女も子どもも心を込めて働いたので、全体が二時間ほどで仕上がった。

Eleio now directed the hog to be cooked. He also ordered cooked red and white fish, red, white, and black cocks, and bananas of the lele and maoli varieties, to be placed on the altar. He ordered all women and children to enter their houses and to assist him with their prayers; all pigs, chickens, and dogs to be tied in dark huts to keep them quiet, and that the most profound silence should be kept. The men at work were asked to remember their gods, and to invoke their assistance for Eleio. He then started for Hana, pulled up a couple of bushes of awa of Kaeleku, famous for its medicinal properties, and was back again before the hog was cooked. The awa was prepared, and when the preparations for the feast were complete and set out, he offered everything to his gods and begged assistance in what he was about to perform.

エレイオは次に豚を蒸し焼きにするよう指図した。また、煮た赤い魚と白い魚、赤と白と黒の雄鶏、レレとマオリの種類のバナナを祭壇に供えるようにと命じた。女と子どもはみな家に入って祈りで自分を助けるように、豚と鶏と犬はみな暗い小屋につないで静かにさせるように、そしてこのうえなく深い静けさを保つようにと命じた。働いている男たちには、それぞれの神を思い起こし、エレイオのために助けを願うよう頼んだ。それからエレイオはハナへ向けて走り出し、薬の力で名高いカエレクのアヴァの株を二つ抜き取って、豚が蒸し上がる前に戻ってきた。アヴァが用意され、宴の支度がすっかり整って並べられると、エレイオはすべてを自分の神々に捧げ、これから行おうとすることへの助けを乞うた。

It seems the spirit of the girl had been lingering near him all the time, seeming to be attached to him, but of course invisible to every one. When Eleio had finished his invocation he turned and caught the spirit, and, holding his breath and invoking the gods, he hurried to the puoa, followed by the parents, who now began to understand that he was going to try the kapuku (or restoration to life of the dead) on their daughter. Arriving at the puoa, he placed the spirit against the insteps of the girl and pressed it firmly in, meanwhile continuing his invocation. The spirit entered its former tenement kindly enough until it came to the knees, when it refused to go any further, as from there it could perceive that the stomach was beginning to decompose, and it did not want to be exposed to the pollution of decaying matter. But Eleio, by the strength of his prayers, was enabled to push the spirit up past the knees till it came to the thigh bones, when the refractory spirit again refused to proceed. He had to put additional fervor into his prayers to overcome the spirit's resistance, and it proceeded up to the throat, when there was some further check; by this time the father, mother, and male relatives were all grouped around anxiously watching the operation, and they all added the strength of their petitions to those of Eleio, which enabled him to push the spirit past the neck, when the girl gave a sort of crow. There was now every hope of success, and all the company renewed their prayers with redoubled vigor. The spirit made a last feeble resistance at the elbows and wrists, which was triumphantly overborne by the strength of the united prayers. Then it quietly submitted, took complete possession of the body, and the girl came to life. She was submitted to the usual ceremonies of purification by the local priest, after which she was led to the prepared lanai, when kahuna, maid, parents, and relatives had a joyous reunion. Then they feasted on the food prepared for the gods, who were only supposed to absorb the spiritual essence of things, leaving the grosser material parts to their devotees, who, for the time being, are considered their guests.

どうやら娘の霊はずっとエレイオのそばにとどまっていて、彼に心を寄せているらしかったが、もちろん誰の目にも見えなかった。祈りを終えると、エレイオは振り向いて霊を捕まえ、息を詰めて神々に祈りながらプオアへ急いだ。両親もあとに続き、今やエレイオが娘にカププク(すなわち死者を生き返らせる術)を試そうとしているのだと分かりはじめていた。プオアに着くと、エレイオは霊を娘の足の甲に当ててしっかりと押し込み、そのあいだも祈りを続けた。霊は膝まではすんなりと元の住まいに入っていったが、そこから先へ進むのを拒んだ。そこからは腹が腐りはじめているのが分かり、朽ちてゆくものの汚れに触れたくなかったからである。けれどもエレイオは祈りの力で霊を膝の先へ押し上げ、腿の骨まで来ると、強情な霊はまた進むのを拒んだ。エレイオは祈りにいっそうの熱を込めて霊の抵抗を破らねばならず、霊は喉まで上がったが、そこでまた少しつかえた。このころには父も母も男の親族もみな、まわりに群がって心配そうにこの業を見守っていて、みながエレイオの祈りに自分の願いの力を添えた。それによってエレイオは霊を首の先へ押し上げることができ、そのとき娘は鶏の鳴くような声をあげた。今や成功の望みは十分にあり、一同はみな、いっそう力を込めて祈りを新たにした。霊は肘と手首のところで最後の弱い抵抗を試みたが、一つになった祈りの力に堂々と打ち負かされた。そして静かに従い、体をすっかり我がものとして、娘は生き返った。娘はその土地の祭司の手で、いつもどおりの清めの儀式を受け、そののち用意されたラナイへ導かれた。そこでカフナと娘と両親と親族は、喜びの再会をした。それから一同は神々のために用意された食べ物を食べた。神々は物事の霊的な精のみを吸い取り、より粗い物の部分は信徒に残すと考えられている。信徒はそのあいだ、神々の客と見なされるのである。

After the feast the feather cloak, kapas, and fine mats were brought and displayed to Eleio; and the father said to him: "Take the woman thou hast restored and have her for wife, and remain here with us; you will be our son and will share equally in the love we have for her."

宴のあと、羽根の外套とカパと上等な敷物が運ばれてエレイオに示された。そして父は言った。「おまえが生き返らせた女を取って妻とし、ここにわたしたちと留まってくれ。おまえはわたしたちの息子となり、娘に注ぐ愛を等しく受けるのだ。」

But our hero, with great self-denial and fidelity, said: "No, I accept her as a charge, but for wife, she is worthy to be one for a higher than I. If you will trust her to me, I will take her to my master, for by her beauty and charms she is worthy to be the queen of our lovely island."

けれどもわれらの英雄は、大いなる自制と忠義をもって言った。「いいえ。わたしはこの人を預かりものとして受け取りますが、妻としては、わたしより高い方にこそふさわしい人です。もしこの人をわたしに委ねてくださるなら、わたしの主のもとへお連れします。その美しさと魅力によって、この人はわたしたちの麗しい島の王妃となるにふさわしいのです。」

The father answered: "She is yours to do with as you will. It is as if you had created her, for without you, where would she be now? We only ask this, that you always remember that you have parents and relatives here, and a home whenever you choose."

父は答えた。「娘はおまえのものだ、好きなようにするがよい。おまえが娘を創ったも同じこと。おまえがいなければ、娘は今どこにいたことか。ただこれだけを願う。おまえにはここに親と親族があり、いつでも帰れる家があることを、いつも忘れないでくれ。」

Eleio then asked that the feather cloak be finished for him before he returned to his master. All who could work at feathers set about it at once, including the fair girl restored to life; and he now learned that she was called Kanikaniaula.

それからエレイオは、主のもとへ帰る前に羽根の外套を仕上げてほしいと頼んだ。羽根の細工のできる者はみな、ただちにそれに取りかかった。生き返った美しい娘も加わった。そしてエレイオはこのとき、娘がカニカニアウラという名であることを知った。

When it was completed he set out on his return to Lahaina accompanied by the girl, and taking the feather cloak and the remaining awa he had not used in his incantations. They travelled slowly according to the strength of Kanikaniaula, who now in the body could not equal the speed she had displayed as a spirit.

外套ができあがると、エレイオは娘を連れ、羽根の外套と、まじないに使い残したアヴァを携えて、ラハイナへの帰途についた。二人はカニカニアウラの足に合わせてゆっくりと旅をした。今は体を持つ娘は、霊であったときに見せた速さには及ばなかったからである。

Arriving at Launiupoko, Eleio turned to her and said: "You wait and hide here in the bushes while I go on alone. If by sundown I do not return, I shall be dead. You know the road by which we came; then return to your people. But if all goes well with me I shall be back in a little while."

ラウニウポコに着くと、エレイオは娘に向かって言った。「ここで待って茂みに隠れていてください。わたしは一人で行きます。日暮れまでに戻らなければ、わたしは死んだのです。来た道はご存じですから、そのときはご家族のもとへ帰ってください。けれども何事もなければ、じきに戻ります。」

He then went on alone, and when he reached Makila, on the confines of Lahaina, he saw a number of people heating an imu, or underground oven. On perceiving him they started to bind and roast him alive, such being the orders of the King, but he ordered them away with the request, "Let me die at the feet of my master." And thus he passed successfully the imu heated for him.

それからエレイオは一人で進み、ラハイナのはずれのマキラまで来ると、大勢の人がイム、すなわち地の竈を熱しているのを見た。人々はエレイオを見つけると、王の命によって彼を縛って生きたまま焼こうとした。けれどもエレイオは「主の足もとで死なせてくれ」と願って、彼らを退けさせた。こうして自分のために熱されていた竈を、首尾よく通り過ぎた。

When he finally stood before Kakaalaneo, the latter said to him: "How is this? Why are you not cooked alive, as I ordered? How came you to pass my lunas?"

やがてカカアラネオの前に立つと、王は言った。「これはどうしたことだ。なぜ命じたとおり生きながら焼かれておらぬ。どうやってわしの見張りを通り抜けた。」

The kukini answered: "It was the wish of the slave to die at the feet of his master, if die he must; but if so, it would be an irreparable loss to you, my master, for I have that with me that will cause your name to be renowned and handed down to posterity."

クキニは答えた。「もし死なねばならぬのなら、主の足もとで死ぬのがこの下僕の願いでございました。けれどもそうなれば、わが主にとって取り返しのつかぬ損となりましょう。わたしは、御名を高め後の世に伝えるものを携えてまいったのですから。」

"And what is that?" questioned the King.

「それは何だ」と王は尋ねた。

Eleio then unrolled his bundle and displayed to the astonished gaze of the King and courtiers the glories of a feather cloak, before then unheard of on the islands. Needless to say, he was immediately pardoned and restored to royal favor, and the awa he had brought from Hana was reserved for the King's special use in his offerings to the gods that evening.

そこでエレイオは包みを開き、驚く王と廷臣たちの目の前に、それまで島々で聞いたこともない羽根の外套の輝きを広げて見せた。言うまでもなく、エレイオはただちに許され、王の寵を取り戻した。そしてハナから持ち帰ったアヴァは、その晩、王が神々に捧げるためのものとして特別に取り置かれた。

When the King heard the whole story of Eleio's absence, and that the fair original owner was but a short way off, he ordered her to be immediately brought before him that he might express his gratitude for the wonderful garment. When she arrived, he was so struck with her beauty and modest deportment that he ask her to become his Queen. Thus, some of the highest chiefs of the land traced their descent from Kakaalaneo and Kanikaniaula. The original feather cloak, known as the "Ahu o Kakaalaneo," is said to be in the possession of the Pauahi Bishop Museum. At one time it was used on state occasions as pa-u, or skirt, by Princess Nahienaena, own sister of the second and third Kamehame-has.

エレイオの留守のいきさつをすべて聞き、この見事な衣の美しい元の持ち主がすぐ近くにいると知ると、王は、この驚くべき衣への感謝を述べたいからただちに連れてくるようにと命じた。娘が来ると、王はその美しさと慎み深いふるまいにすっかり心を打たれ、王妃になってくれと頼んだ。こうしてこの地のもっとも高い首長たちの何人かは、その血筋をカカアラネオとカニカニアウラにたどる。もとの羽根の外套は「アフ・オ・カカアラネオ」として知られ、パウアヒ・ビショップ博物館に収められていると言われる。かつては、二代目と三代目のカメハメハの実の妹であるナヒエナエナ王女が、公の場でパウ、すなわち腰布として用いたこともある。

The ahuulas of the ancient Hawaiians were of fine netting, entirely covered, with feathers woven in. These were either of one color and kind or two or three different colors outlining patterns. The feathers were knotted by twos or threes with twisted strands of the olona, the process being called uo. They were then woven into the foundation netting previously made the exact shape and size wanted. The whole process of feather cloak making was laborious and intricate, and the making of a cloak took a great many years. And as to durability, let the cloak of Kalaalaneo, now several centuries old, attest.

いにしえのハワイの人々のアフウラは細かい網でできていて、羽根を織り込んで全体を覆っていた。羽根は一色一種のものか、二色か三色を用いて模様を描き出すものであった。羽根はオロナのより糸で二本か三本ずつ結わえられ、この工程はウオと呼ばれた。それを、望みの形と大きさにあらかじめ作っておいた下地の網に織り込んでいった。羽根の外套を作る工程はすべて骨が折れ、入り組んでいて、一枚の外套を仕上げるには実に長い年月がかかった。その丈夫さについては、今や数百年を経たカカアラネオの外套が証となるだろう。