Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Samoan Material Culture

Fire

Fire

All Polynesians have some variant of a common myth concerning the origin of fire. Most of them state that it was obtained from a region under the surface of the earth, and after being conveyed to the upper world was stored in trees. The Maori version is that Maui-tikitiki-o-Taranga obtained it from the guardian of fire, Mahuika. The Samoan version gives the names page 99in their dialect as Tiitii-o-Talanga and Mafui'e. Tiitii obtained entrance to the lower regions by using the magic words recited by his father, "Papa mavae, 'o a'u o Ti'iti'i o Talanga" (Rocks open, it is I, Ti'iti'i of Talanga). The rocks opened revealing a path leading downward to the region where Mafuie tended a fire. By superior physical prowess, proved by breaking one of Mafuie's arms, Tiitii obtained a burning piece of wood (motumotu). He returned to the upper world and with the lighted brand, struck the tofaso, fau, and other trees, thus implanting in them the spark of fire. "Before this," say the Samoans, "man ate food raw ('ai mata), but afterwards, by kindling the fire implanted in wood, he was enabled to eat cooked food ('ai vela)."

The technical elements for kindling the stored fire adopted by the Polynesians have been termed "the fire plough." They consist of a piece of dry wood laid on the ground and sometimes steadied by the foot of an assistant. Upon this a longitudinal groove is formed by rubbing with a pointed stick. The operator clasps the fingers of both hands over the front of the rubbing stick with the thumbs behind it. The stick is inclined forward at an acute angle with the lower piece. The weight is put on the rubbing stick as it goes forward while the return movement is for position. Small particles of wood are displaced by the rubbing, and as the groove deepens they accumulate at the forward end of the groove. (See Plate IV A, 1, 2.) When sufficient particles have accumulated forward, the rubbing movement increases in speed, heat is generated by friction, and the particles begin to smoke. At that moment gentle blowing is carefully applied and the particles smoulder and glow. The dry fabric-like material from the base of coconut leaves (lau'a'.a) has been rubbed previously into fine pieces and rests beside the fire sticks. The grooved stick is quickly turned over, and the burning particles emptied upon the prepared material. Gentle blowing fans it into a flame, dry twigs are added, and the concealed fire captured from Mafuie burns as it did of old. Pieces of old bark cloth, plaited into a three-ply braid are also used to ignite the fire from the fire plough.

The lower grooved stick is termed mata si'a, the pointed active stick, ngatu, and the friction process, si'a afi. The most quickly lighted wood is tofaso, but most woods will respond if they are thoroughly dry. Carrying poles of fau, which have been in use for some time, are often used as the under piece. Even in these days, a worker in his bush cultivation, finding that he has forgotten his matches, generates fire by the ancient method often on his carrying pole when it is the driest wood available. The dry sheath of the coconut flower ('aulosoloso) may be used for the under piece.