Note 11 — Introductory material

At about this time people began to see and to wonder at the frequent appearance of a rainbow on the cliff. Kaoleioku, a high priest who was living at this place, also saw the rainbow, and he, too, wondered at its constant appearance; but being of a class well versed in ancient lore, he began a study of the matter and concluded that it must be Umi, for rumors of his disappearance had come to them shortly before this. In order to make sure that his findings were true he decided to test the matter, and so one day he took up a pig and came down to look for Umi. When he entered the house and saw the form of Umi, and how noble and chiefly he looked, he made up his mind that it was indeed Umi. He, however, took the pig and offered it to Umi with a prayer, saying: “Here is the pig, O god, a chief-searching pig.”11 At the close of his prayer he released the pig and it walked towards Umi. After standing in the presence of Umi for a short time it turned and came back to Kaoleioku. Kaoleioku then asked: “Are you indeed Umi?” “Yes,” said Umi, “it is I.” Kaoleioku then said: “Let us return to my house.” Umi assented and they returned to the home of Kaoleioku. When the father-in-law and mother-in-law as well as the people around the place saw this, they then knew that this young man was the chief Umi, the son of Liloa, the one that they had heard was lost.