Page:Folklore1919.djvu/248

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
236
A Tongan Theogony.

Tama-bouli-kae-ala-mafoa (Darkness heralding the Dawn). The next was called Tangaloa-eiki (Tangaloa the Chief). After him came Eitumatubua; the fourth was Tangaloa-tufunga (Tangaloa the Craftsman), and the youngest Tangaloa-atu-longo-longo.

The chiefs of Tonga are of divine lineage, and the link between god and chief is supplied by Eitumatubua, who was the father of Ahoeitu, the first Tui Tonga, or supreme sacred chief of Tonga.

After this happy issue of her match-making efforts the faithful and public-spirited Havealolofonua sought and obtained the remaining marriageable maiden amongst her contemporaries, Velejii, as a partner for Biki, and of this new union sprang another famous line of gods, the Maui—Maui-motua, Maui-buku, and Maui-atulanga, who in his turn became the father of a son, Maui-kijikiji, though deponent knoweth not who was the mother of the latter youth. Maui-kijikiji, though he enjoys the reputation of having been a reprobate young rascal, wrought for mortals a priceless work by breaking down the divine monopoly in fire and securing its use to us lesser dwellers on earth.

Taufulifonua and Havealolofonua, having now the oversight of so numerous a family, bestirred themselves to apportion habitations for the various groups. To the Tangaloas was assigned the sky, to the Mauis were allotted dwellings under the earth, Hemoana's sphere was the sea. Lube's the land and forest, and to Hikuleo was granted the Tongan paradise, Bulotu. A sore restriction, however, was placed upon Hikuleo, though with benevolent intent, for any place which she might visit was doomed to sure destruction. To prevent, therefore, such calamitous peregrinations the goddess was bound by a great rope, of which one end was held by the Tangaloas in the sky, and the other by the Mauis under the earth.

In course of time Tangaloa-atulongolongo determined on a visit to earth, so going down he entered into a snipe, but, like a better known bird, this winged wanderer found no rest for the sole of his foot, but water everywhere. Appearances, however, were not wholly discouraging, as one small spot showed