THE story of Uta-matua is probably Kapingamarangi's most highly valued tradition, since it describes the discovery of the island by the island god, the god's victory over a local chief, and his creation of Touhou Islet, on which the settlement stands today. Until the adoption of Christianity, Uta-matua and his wife, Roua, were the principal gods of Kapingamarangi. The site of Uta-matua's grave is marked by a large stone behind the church. Beside the stone stands a wooden pillar erected by the Japanese. Although a great many persons could have told this tale, I first chanced to hear it from Tioripi, aged 67, and his wife, Heniki, aged 64. Heniki's uncle, Timoweti, had been next to the last of the high priests of Kapingamarangi. Her husband, Tioripi, had been a priest in the cult house before its abolishment in I922. Tioripi had few teeth and a speech impediment, as well as the habit of extraordinarily fast speech, but his wife patiently repeated what I was unable to get. Several weeks later after I was more fluent in the language, I asked them to tell the story again; a few additional names and details were added, and all the last part about the creation of Touhou Islet. The tale tells of the voyage of Uta-matua from Tamana Island to Kapin gamarangi. Tamana is described as one of three islands. Pakihi and Pararu were west of it and victorious enemies of the Tamana people. Identification of these lands is not certain. There is a Tamana Island today in the Gilberts. My informants did not know in which direction Uta-matua sailed after he left Tamana Island, although the wife for whom he was looking had gone southward. A well-known chant concerning Uta-matua's voyage states that he stopped at Nukuhetau Island, perhaps the place of that name in the Ellice