Some Folk-Songs and Myths From Samoa

[section]

1. You are a Fale-alili man;
2. [So] listen to me;
3. For our lives are about to be sung,—
4. [The story] about Fa'a-vavau and Mate-mate.
5. Tua and Lo'o were their parents;
6. Le-tonu was their sister;
7. She was married in Siumu to Atu-u'u;
8. By which marriage they got a pig;
9. They were married [and lived] in an inland village.
10. Then went Malietoa-fe'ai [thither] to wash his head. [up.
11. Some one pointed out to him, lo!, the head [of the pig] hanging
12. Let us two eat of it, [said he],
13. But there is one drawback—
14. That, if it is turned, we shall have no desire to eat of it.
15. O chief, [says Tui,] go into the house;
16. Sit down pleasantly with them, and chat pleasantly with them,
17. While we two will take down the head and prepare it.
18. We will cook it with cocoa-nut juice poured over it;
19. And [for it] I will pluck the leaves of the best bananas,
20. Which I will bring hither in my hands;
21. [When] the head [is ready], I will bring it and show it to you. Malietoa replies—
22. Friend, come gently hither;
23. I am exhausted with hunger.
24. I will set up my staff of office—our Fale-atua;
25. Now then, here is our Fale-atua; leave it here;

26. But let us have our first feast.
27. On a pig that ran about at large inland.
28. Go up [inland] and get it;
29. Take out the two lumps of lard
30. And the liver; squeeze them out [for cooking].
31. Friend, when you have got your feast [ready],
32. Lay it out as on a tray; lay it out
33. Close to the seat of Malietoa-fe'ai.
34. Friend, walk gently hither;
35. I am exhausted with hunger.

Tui says—

36. O chief, do you sit still and rest,
37. Till I uncover the prepared viands;
38. Then you will eat of them.

* * * * *

39. Malietoa ate, continued to eat
40. Well pleased, and he said,
41. ‘Friend, this is the very best of feast days,
42. [For] I have eaten good food [to-day].
43. Friend, tear off the skin of the dish you two [prepared],
44. Lo! a dry cocoa-nut leaf is on the outside,
45. And a green cocoa-nut leaf is on the inside;
46. Tui's eyes are shining.

Malietoa says—

47. ‘Friend, come now, since you have done so well,
48. Let those to the east live, let those to the west live;
49. And if you have any number of followers, you will so arrange
50. That your feast-offering shall not become a burden.'