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Niuē-fekai (or Savage) Island and its People
THE TRADITIONS OF NIUE-FEKAI
THE TRADITIONS OF NIUE-FEKAI
Written by Pulekula, Teacher at Tama-ha-le-leka.
Liku, October, 1901.
(Translation).
IT commences with the preparation of the island (as a dwelling place) down to the birth of mankind from a tree; also describes the gods, male and female. It is the story of the waters, of the fish, of the birds, of creeping things, and of the trees on the surface of earth; of the fierceness (or evil), the stealing, of the upright (works); also of the kings; of the arrival of Captain Cook in 1774; of Peniamina and Toimata in 1846; of Paulo in 1849; of Mr. Lawes in August, 1861; of the three kings—Mataio, Fata-a-iki and Tongia-pule-toaki—down to the hoisting of the British flag at Niue in 1900.
The Gods of Old
1. There were five gods (tupua) that fled hither from Motu-galo. They were men who lived in idleness, and took no part in the preparation of feasts. (So it came to pass) when their parents made a feast and when all others partook, no portion was sent to them. They were left out because of their laziness. This became the constant rule, and the parents became greedy; then (the five) fled away to seek an island on which they might dwell permanently.
2. There are three accounts about them—that they came from Fonua-galo; from Tulia; from Toga—and some other islands.* These are the names of the tupuas—Fao, Faka-hoko, Huanaki, Lage-iki and Lagi-atea.
3. Between Liku and Lakepa, there is (a part of the) sea-shore called Motu—which name remains to this day; it is a small level space on the reef, with Mata-kao-lima on the north, Makato on the east; whilst at Hiola spring up the streams from which they (people) drink, which there gush forth from the rocks.
4. They (these tupuas) came up from beneath a pool on the reef; Fao from near the base of the cliffs, where his way opened up and he ascended to build a residence at Toga-liulu. He found a single small