Aesop’s Fables by David Kaluhi Baker
Cover Image: Masthead of Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, printed on September 3, 1881.
Aloha Nūhou Monday!
Davida Kaluhi Beka [David Kaluhi Baker] (1863–1927) translates Aesop Romance, a fictional account of the life of Aesop. “He Wahi Moolelo Pokole no Esopa,” runs in Ko Hawaii Pae Aina from August 27 to October 29, 1881. Baker also translates and submits fables as well, like the following:
Image: “Ka Pipi a me ka Lana.” Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, July 9, 1881, p. 2.
The Ox and the Frog
A Fable.
One day, when an Ox was walking, eating greenery on the fields, he mistakenly stepped on a young frog and killed it. And the remaining frog followed after their mother. When he returned, he proclaimed: “A huge animal came which neither of us recognized from all our lives, and one of us just died. “How big; was he this big?” said his mother, as she blew her body up so there were no wrinkles. “Oh no, much bigger,” according to the child.
“Then like this,” said the parent as she inflated again.
“It is true, O Mama,” he said, “if you inflate your body, your size will be no comparison to how big it is.
She tried one more time to inflate her body and it was swollen indeed. But her size was not like that of the ox, as per the child.
Lesson.
A person who is concerned with obtaining great wealth like the wealth of another, more than he has, he should learn lest he end up like the frog shown in the riddle. For the person who submitted the riddle believes that there are many people who fell because of their preoccupation with raising themselves to the level of someone higher than themselves. But what’s best is to be wary.
D. K. B.
Image: David Kaluhi Baker. Photo from Men of Hawaii 1921, AH 20.H M52 1921. Bishop Museum Archives, SP 1127715
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org.
Image: “Ka Rana,” as introduced in Ke Alaula, February 1870, p. 42.
Image: “He Bipi” as introduced in Ka Lama Hawaii, April 25, 1834, p. 1
Image: “Ka Alopeka a me ka Manu.” Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, September 3, 1881, p. 1.
THE FOX AND THE BIRD [CROW]
A FABLE.
One day, a bird snuck a piece of cheese from a larder and flew upon a tree to eat it. However, while it was making ready to eat it, the fox saw him and ran up right below where the bird was perched. The fox spoke of the unsurpassed beauty of the bird’s feathers.
“I swear,” it said, “I have never seen a bird before that had such beautiful white feathers like you do. Oh my, what is that creature whose body dazzles above. Yet this is the only desire I have left; I want to hear your voice. If the elegance of your voice is like your style, I believe that there is no other bird like you.”
The bird was thrilled to hear these fine words spoken before him. The bird flapped its wings while saying, “I am truly honored being blessed by this voice.” The fox thought he was getting ready to sing.
Soon after that, the bird did indeed sing; and when it did this, within that very second, the piece of cheese fell from its mouth.
And it was this that the fox really wanted; he ran quickly and gulped it down that moment, and sped away, laughing with ridicule by himself at that foolish bird.
Lesson
All people who follow in tempting or constantly flattering his friends, it is appropriate that they should be called foxes, the creatures that spoil the vineyard. Whereas temptation is a great evil amongst us that is similar to flattery, being that the tempter operates using deceitful words, and so too does the flatterer; if you are deceived, you will end up disappointed or hurt perhaps; and then his laughter will ring forth in the waters of the Nāulu1 rain.
Therefore, let us be very wary of that sort of thing happening to us, lest you end up like a certain bird. And for those people who do this sort of thing, don’t do it again; they are acts that will spoil a loving relationship.
D. K. B.
1A play on nāulu, which can be a rain or wind name, or to be vexed or angry.
This post is part of He Aupuni Palapala: Preserving and Digitizing the Hawaiian Language Newspapers, a partnership between Bishop Museum and Awaiaulu with assistance from Kamehameha Schools. Mahalo nui loa to Hawaii Tourism Authority for their support. Learn more about this project here.
