Note 3 — Introductory material (continued 3)

When Lonoikamakahiki was quite young, when he was just about beginning to reason for himself, he looked up one day and saw the various implements used by his father in the different games, which were hanging up in the palace; when he saw the long spear used in the game of pahee3 he looked at it for a long time and then asked his retainers: “What are those long things hanging up there on the side of the house?” The retainers replied: “They are pahee spears.” Lonoikamakahiki again asked them: “What are they used for?” The retainers then told him: “When two men wish to wager certain articles of value, they would proceed to the pahee grounds and upon arriving at the place they would decide first as to the wager, whether it be articles of value or pieces of land. If they do not wager these things, then they would put up other things, such as their bones, meaning their lives. After the bets are agreed on, they would then proceed to play the game of pahee. If the points to be scored in order to win the game be made fifteen, then the one who first obtains this number of points would win and the one with the lesser points would lose; then the winner takes the articles wagered, or whatever had been placed as wagers. Sometimes the articles of value would be so great that it would take three and four houses to hold them all. But if the things wagered be their bones, then death of course would be meted out to the loser. Wagering for bones was not made very often, only when the parties entered into the merits of their skill by long and spirited arguments, each claiming to be superior to the other. That is the use of those long things you see.”