In very ancient times, there lived on the island of Oahu a leader named the Strongest. One day he decided to go around and inspect his lands. On the way, he met a stranger and told him where he was going and why.
“My name is Zorky,” said the stranger. “I can see the most distant lands.” They are larger and more beautiful than yours.
The two of them walked on. They are walking, and a man meets them.
- Who are you? - they asked him. - What are you doing?
- My name is Fast. I'm waiting for the sun to rise. I want to catch him.
They all began to wait together. When the sun rose, Bystry chased after him, caught up, grabbed him and held him for some time as a prisoner.
Then the three of them went: the leader Strongest and his two servants - Zorky and Fast.
Soon they saw two people sleeping on the road, one of them was shaking from the cold, the second was burning like on fire. That's what they were called - Freezing and Burning.
The travelers warmed one, cooled the other and took them with them.
Then they met a hunter who shot very accurately with a bow. His name was Mark. They invited him to go with them, and Mark agreed.
After that, they saw a man lying with his ear to the ground.
- What are you doing? - they asked him.
“I’m listening to our ancestors Papa and Uakea quarrel,” answered the stranger.
His name was Sensitive.
Together they continued their journey until they reached a land more beautiful than which none of them had ever seen.
The watchmen of this land look - six stately, handsome men are approaching, and with them the seventh, apparently a noble man.
The chief in the land of Papa and Wakea was a woman. She was immediately informed of the appearance of seven strangers. The female chief told the leader of her warriors to bring all seven to her house. The command was carried out: the strangers were brought to the leader's house, fed well and offered to rest. Meanwhile, people gathered around the house.
In the morning, the Strongest said to the female leader:
“I heard that you like to offer guests difficult riddles.” If I solve them, will you become my wife?
“I agree,” the woman answered. They left the house, and she turned to the guest:
“My servant is standing at the door to the house of Papa and Uakea.” Where is this door?
The leader turned to Zorky and asked:
- Do you see this door?
“That huge tree over there is this door,” Zorky answers. - Break a tree and you will see a door in the roots.
The Strongest approached the tree, twisted the trunk, broke it, threw it aside and found the door.
Then the woman leader said:
—Three dogs will come out of this door. One of them belongs to Wakea, our paramount chief, one to his wife Papa, and one to me. Can you tell which dog has which?
The leader whispered to Sensitive:
- Find out which dog is whose. He put his sensitive ear to the ground and heard Dad say to the servants:
“My black dog will come out first, followed by the red dog of Wakea, and then the white dog of the chief woman.”
The Sensitive One conveyed these words to the Strongest, and he said:
“The black one belongs to Papa, the red one belongs to Wakea, and the white one is your dog.”
After some time, the female leader ordered preparations for the feast. And she said to the guest:
“The feast requires sweet water, but its source is very far from here.” Send one of your men, and I will send a maid. We will give each of them a calabash. If your man returns first, I will become your wife.
The leader gave the calabash to Quick, and he prepared to run. A woman was already standing next to him with her calabash.
The signal was given and the race began. No one could ever overtake Bystry, but this woman overtook and even left far behind. Then the leader called Mark and said:
- Now you have to help.
The servant shot, the arrow flew far, far away and whistled over the ear of the running woman. She fell out of surprise, and Bystry took the lead.
Then the leader asked Zorky:
— Is the woman overtaking again? The leader turned to Mark again:
- Do you have another arrow?
The marksman released the bowstring, the arrow flew and hit the woman’s back. The maid fell, Bystry overtook her again, ran to the source, filled the calabash and turned back.
But the woman was very agile. She quickly ran to the source, collected water and again overtook Bystroy.
Then another arrow hit her head. The woman fell face down, the calabash broke, and the water spilled. But the maid stood up and rushed forward with the remaining water. She ran as fast as she had at the very beginning of the race, and soon overtook her opponent. The leader exclaimed:
- Oh Marked! Do you have another arrow?
“It will be found,” answered the servant.
He shot a blunt arrow and it hit the woman.
The maid fell and spilled the remaining water from the broken calabash.
And Quick finished his run and gave his calabash to the leader.
The strongest one poured sweet water into a bowl made from a coconut shell and gave it to the female leader.
And she suggested another test:
“There are two places in our land: one is very cold, the other is very hot. If you find among your people those who could live there, I will become your wife.
The leader turned to the Freezing One:
“You’re always shivering from the cold.” Shouldn't you go live in this hot place?
And the leader suggested to the Burning One to go to a cold place.
They both agreed and said:
- Okay, we'll go, but we'll never come back. After all, those are the places we usually live.
So the Strongest passed all the tests, and the female leader became his wife. Since then, they ruled together the beautiful land of the gods.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru