Some Samoan Legends

The Canoe of Lata

There was a period of vigorous voyaging during five generations, or about a hundred and fifty years, between Te Alutanganuku, who made the first voyages, and Tangi'ia, who made the last. The first canoe spoken of was built on Savai'i, in a forest belonging to Lata, by Atonga and his two brothers, Olo-keu and Olo-i-nano. The two brothers, Olo-keu and Olo-i-nano, first started the building, being impelled to do so by the harsh treatment of Atonga. They went to a forest on Savai'i belonging to Lata, and without his permission cut down a tree for the purpose of making a canoe in which to seek a home in other lands. Having cut down the tree, they returned to the coast, intending to return next day to proceed with the work. Meantime Lata appeared, and resented the tree having been felled without his permission. He repeated a charm causing the branches, bark, chips, and leaves to fly again into their places and join together, so that the tree would stand again where it was.

"Stand upright," said Lata; "I am Tutamaotamea" ; on which the tree stood upright, and Lata returned to the coast.

The brothers returned in early morning, and found that their tree had disappeared; but they recognized it by the axes left at its butt, and cut it down again, dividing it ready for dragging it to the coast. Then they returned home.

On their way they encountered another marvel: an owl and a snake were engaged in combat. The owl, claiming to be the lord of the forest in disguise, said to them, "Friends, my brothers, come to my assistance, and put an end to this conflict." But the snake said, "Chiefs, proceed, and do not interfere in the quarrel between a snake and an owl "; on which the brothers prepared to go on, not caring to interfere. They paused, however, when the owl continued, "Behold, I am the lord of this forest in which you two cut down the tree; if you do not put an end to this conflict, never shall you paddle in your canoe," and, remembering how their felled tree had been set upright again, they turned back and killed the snake. Thereupon the owl said, " Go, you two; prepare your canoe, a va'atele, with its outrigger, and seats, and set of paddles." In due time, when the canoe had been built, they prepared to drag it to the sea; but when they reached the ridge of the mountain they both died.

Atonga, finding that his brothers did not return, sought them, and found them lying dead on the ridge, where he buried them, and took the canoe for himself. There is a mystery about this Atonga. He had something to do with the building of the canoe. He was a man of two sides, one side spirit, the other human. The human side worked as a servant, the spirit side built the canoe, finishing it in one night, from which it was first called The Canoe built in a Night.

The fame of the canoe reached Upolu, and the chief Te Alutanga-nuku longed to possess it. He sent his wife to Atonga, and she apparently wiled the canoe from him; for Atonga sent a message by the wife presenting the canoe to Te Alutanga-nuku, and directing him to prepare a house for its reception. " Summon all Upolu to come and build a house quickly," said he to the wife, "for the canoe shall be taken to him in the morning. Command that none of the people stand upright, but that all sit down and watch the canoe as it is taken, listening to the song of the birds bearing it."

The woman hastened to her husband with the message; he summoned the people, and the canoe-house was built by daylight of the next day, when the song was heard of the birds approaching with their burden. Atonga had sent his commands to all the birds to carry the canoe, and instructed them what song they should sing in lifting it." This," said he, "shall be your song when you take the canoe:

The thousands of Kupolu
In the early morning assemble and behold!
[Chorus] Olo-keu e; Olo-i-nano e!
Olo-keu e ; Olo-i-nano e !

Atonga had changed the name of the canoe to Manu-a-lele (Birds about to Fly). It was landed and safely housed at Upolu, the chief changing its name to that of his wife O-le puta-o-le peau (The Fullness of the Wave), which was its third name. After this preparations were made for the first voyage of the canoe.

On the first voyage it visited all the lands on the south south-west and west side of the heaven, but did not go to the upper side of heaven, or toward Tahiti ; and when the year was finished the chief gave the canoe to his son Te Alutanga-langi, who made the second voyage.

On the second voyage the name was again changed to O-le folau-loi-i-Fiti (The Voyage direct to Fiji, but it did not go eastward. At the close of that year the chief gave the canoe to his son Kau-kulu.

On this third voyage the canoe visited Fiti and the lands Kau-kulu's father had visited. It also went to another land, called Tonga-leva, which was then known for the first time. After this Kau-kulu returned to Upolu, when he saw that the canoe was opening in the joints. He anchored it beneath the water and named it Tuna-moe-vai (Eel sleeping in the Water). When a season had passed he gave the canoe to his son Malu, who again changed its name to Numia-au (Confusion of Currents).

On the fourth voyage, under Malu, the canoe sailed to the upper side of the heavens, east or north-east, whither Malu went with his father Kau-kulu. They discovered a small island named Toku-tea, where Malu left his father. After further sailing he returned to Samoa. On his return to Savai'i Malu married a woman named Ruamano, by whom he had two girls. One of these married a man named Tutapu, and had a son, who was adopted by Malu as he had no son, and by him named Te Uen&127;a. The boy fell sick; but two aitu came, who were Tangaloa and Tongaiti, and looked at the boy. Tangaloa said,

"Alas, poor boy! "and, addressing his companion, said, "What do you say-suppose we let the boy live? If he lives he will be our rejolcing." On this they called the boy Tangi'ia, which means " Compassionated " literally "Cried over" because of the sympathy of the two spirits for the boy when near death. This Tangi'ia became the famous voyager.

Sina, The Eel and The Coconut

Sina was the daughter of a couple, both apparently called Pai, dwelling at Mata-faga-tele. One day Sina found a young eel, which she kept and reared in a coconut shell. The eel grew, so that the coconut shell grew too small, and she changed it for a kava-bowl. The bowl growing too small, she kept the eel in a spring at Maata'a. It filled this spring, so she kept it in a bigger, and a bigger, and yet a bigger spring. At the side of the last spring grew a beautiful tree, the fruit of which was called pua. Sina picked the fruit and threw it into the water, and herself entered the spring, swimming and gathering the fruit together. While she was so doing the eel struck her and pierced her with its tail. Sina was angry, and in displeasure went to Savai'i; but the eel left the water and followed her; and through all the land, where Sina went, there too went the eel. It followed to Upolu, coming there as the sun was sinking in the west. Its shadow was cast eastward, and the district that lay under the shadow was called Laloata.

The people of Fuata, as the whole of the district was called, determined to kill the eel. Poisonous leaves of the lalago-tree were gathered, bruised, and mixed with water in a bowl. When the eel saw that his death was meditated he called Sina, and said to her, " I know that poisoned drink will be brought to me. Therefore, O Sina, if you love me you will, on my death, claim my head as your share. Bury it by a Tonga stone wall, and from it a coconut palm will grow for you. O Sina, you will have leaves for the plaiting of mats and fans with which to ensnare the monsoon and show your love for me. Thereupon the eel drank the prepared drink and died. Of Sina, since she had been pierced by the eel, this song was sung:

Maiden Sina, daughter of Pai,
Thou hast plucked the pua-fruit and flung it in the water.
Swimming thou hast gathered it,
And by the tail of the eel hast been shamed.

Sina, The Eel and The Coconut (Variation)

The mother of Sina went down to the sea to draw salt water for cooking purposes. A small sea-eel adhered to her coconut-shell water bottle, and she took it home as a plaything for her daughter Sina. She fed it, keeping it in a cup; but the eel grew, and they dug a pond for it. One day Pai and his wife returned from some plantation work, and found Sina crying, as the eel had bitten her. Fearing it must have become the incarnation of some cruel deity, they determined to leave that place.

Away the three went eastward; but when they looked round, there was the eel, out of the water and following after them. " You make your escape," said the father to his wife and Sina; " I will remain here and raise mountains to keep it back." Sina and her mother went on, but when they looked over their shoulder, there was the eel again, still following after them. Then the mother said to her daughter, " You make your escape alone; I will remain here and raise mountains in the way of the creature." Sina went on alone, but the eel followed just as before. As she passed through the villages the people called her in to rest and have a little food; and she agreed to do so provided that they would try to deliver her from the pursuing eel. When they heard that, and saw the creature, they said, " Oh, no; you had better pass on ; we are afraid of that thing."

She thought escape impossible, and gave it up, turning again toward her home. As she passed through one of the villages east of Apia the people called the attention of the chief to the young woman passing, followed by an eel. He told them to call her in to have something to drink. She said she would gladly do so if they would only get rid of the eel. " Yes, come in; we can do that," the chief called to her. She went into the house ; the eel remained outside. The chief gave orders for the preparation of a cup of 'ava (kava) for the strangers, and quietly whispered to the young men to bring from the bush all the poisonous things they could find to mix with the drink. Soon the 'ava was declared ready to hand round.

"Give the first cup to the stranger outside," said the chief to the young men; and out went one of them with the cup for the eel, which drank it eagerly But immediately the creature called to Sina to come outside; and when she went out it said to her, " Since I am dying, let us part in peace. When you hear that they have cooked me, ask the head as your share. Take it and bury it near the stone wall, and it will grow up into a coconut-tree for you. In the nuts you will see my eyes and mouth, and so we shall still be able to look at each other face to face. The leaves of the tree will be a shade for you, and you will be able to plait them into mats and fans."

Saying this, the creature died, and was soon in the oven; and when it was served up Sina begged the head, took it home with her, and buried it near the stone wall. It grew up into a coconut-tree, and she got her leaves, and mats, and fans, and nuts; and the nuts were marked with the eyes and mouth of her departed eel, whose face she could still touch with hers.