THE STORY OF THE VISIT OF TONGA-ITI TO RAROTONGA.
By Manuiri. Translated by Arthur W. Browne, of Rarotonga.
IN the remote past, Tonga-iti arrived at Rarotonga, accompanied by his wife, Mai-ove, who was also called Rangatira; they came from Avaiki. There also came with them two servants, named Nu and Nana. These people landed at Vai-kokopu, in the district of Ngatangiia. Soon after landing, these four proceeded on an exploring expedition in this newly-found land, they ultimately reached the top of the mountain named Te Kou (the mist): from here they had a splendid view nearly over the whole island. They then set to work and dug a well, and came across a spring of beautiful water. It was then agreed that they should let the flow of water run to the north side, to Avarua. Before doing so, however, they went for a further excursion, leaving Nu and Nana in charge of the spring.
Immediately on their departure, a new arrival turned up in the person of Tou-tika. They got into friendly conversation, and Tou-tika practised the following stratagem, so as to get the flow of water diverted from Avarua to the Avana side, north east of Ngatangiia. Tou-tika persuaded the two servants, Nu and Nana, to take his side, and gave them new names; he called one Tinai, and the other Pua-roa-iva, and issued the following instructions: “In a short time you will hear your names shouted, to remove the reeds and let the waters loose. If the names shouted are Nu and Nana, you must not answer; but when you hear your new names, Tinai and Pua-roa-iva, then remove the reeds towards Avana, Ngatangiia, and let the waters flow in that direction.” Having concluded this bargain, Tou-tika went in search of Tonga-iti and Rangatira. It was not very long before they met. Tonga-iti and Rangatira were much surprised to see Tou-tika, and inquired whence he came. Tou-tika at once assumed the lordship of the island, as if he had been there first. - 143 Tonga-iti would not acknowledge this, but insisted that he was the first to arrive. After a deal of quarrelling, Tonga-iti said he could prove his prior rights by his servants, whom he had left to guard the spring of water. This being just what Tou-tika wanted, he said, “Very well, I will agree to their decision; we will now go close to the well, and you shout out the names of your servants, and tell them to remove the reeds and let the waters flow. If they obey you, then I will acknowledge that the land is yours. If, however, you are not obeyed, then allow me to shout out to my guardians of the well; if I am obeyed you must acknowledge that the land is mine.” This being mutually agreed upon, they all approached the well. Upon a near approach, Tonga-iti shouted, “O Nu! O Nana! loose the reeds and let the waters flow.” There was no answer. Tonga-iti shouted the same again four times in succession, but there was no answer. It was now Tou-tika's turn, so he shouted, “O Tinai! O Pua-roa-iva! loose the reeds and let the waters flow.” This was at once answered; the reeds were withdrawn, and away went the flow of waters to Avana, where it flows to the present day. So Tonga-iti and Rangatira were beaten, and left the mountain on the track to Avarua. It appears that the reason Tou-tika got the best of Tonga-iti was, that he was a priest at the Marae “Are-vananga.”
TE AERENGA O TONGA-ITI KI RAROTONGA.
Na Manuiri.
E muatanga kua aere mai a Tonga-iti raua ko Mai-ove, koia oki a Rangatira; ko te vaine ïa a Tonga-iti, e o raua puke tavini. Teia o raua ingoa, ko Nu tetai, ko Nana tetai. I kake mai ratou i Ngatangiia; ko Vai-kokopu te ava i uru mai ratou ki Ngatangiia. E aere atura ratou ki te maunga, e tutaka-aere i te enua, kia kite ratou i te tu. E tae atu toko? ki runga i te maunga, ia Te Kou, kua akara aere atura i te tiroa o te enua e te tipoto, e kua tau i ta raua mata. Kua tuatua a Tonga-iti ki tana vaine, kia Rangatira, e ko ratou i tetai puna vai ki runga ia Te Kou. Kua ko iora ratou i te puna vai, e oti akera. Kua karanga a Tonga-iti ki te vaine, “E tuku ki ea te vai?” “E tuku ki Avarua.” Kua akanoo iora a Tonga-iti i nga tavini i raro i te vai ei kiriti ei te kakao me kapiki mai raua. Noo iora nga tavini, aere atura a Tonga-iti e te vaine.
Kare i roa kua tae mai a Tou-tika, kua ui atura ki nga tiaki-vai, ia Tonga-iti e te vaine. Kua tuatua nga tiaki-vai ki aia, “Kua aere atu na.” Kua ui mai ra a Tou-tika i ta raua angaanga i akonaia ai raua. Kua akakite mai ra raua, e tiaki-vai. Kua apii atura a Tou-tika ki te - 144 pikikaa; kua akakite a Tou-tika kia raua i tana i rave ia raua, e ingoa ke tana ka topa no raua, ko Tinai to tetai, ko Te Pua-roa-iva to tetai. Kua ako atura a Tou-tika ia raua, auraka raua e ?? mai me kapiki mai a Tonga-iti ia raua, “E me kapiki atu au i o korua ingoa, ‘e Tinai! e Pua-roa-iva! kiritia te kakao’, ei reira korua e kiriti ei, ka tuku korua te vai ki Avana.” I reira kua akatika atura nga tiaki-vai i ta Tou-tika i akoako mai kia raua ra; aru atura a Tou-tika ia Tonga-iti ma te vaine i reira. Kua kapiki atura a Tou-tika ia raua, “E, noea korua i kona? Naai korua i omai ki kona?” Kua akapera katoa a Tonga-iti ma te vaine kia Tou-tika; kua tauetono iora ratou i reira. Te karanga atu ra a Tou-tika kia Tonga-iti ma te vaine e, nona te enua. Te karanga atu ra a Tonga-iti ma te vaine kia Tou-tika, no raua te enua. Kau tauetono na iora ratou; e keta a Tou-tika nona te enua, e keta e Tonga-iti ma te vaine, no raua te enua, “Tena ta maua akairo.” Kua karanga atura a Tou-tika kia raua, “Ina korua! kapiki i ta korua tiaki i te vai ta korua i vaio, i te ??anga mai kia korua, ka kapiki ei au ki taku i vaio i raro i te vai i o raua ingoa, na te ?? mai i taku kapiki ?, noku te enua, kia kapiki korua i te ingoa o ta korua i vaio i raro i te vai, ei kiriti ei i te kakao, i te akarongoanga mai i to korua reo, a, no korua te enua.” Kua kapiki atura a Tonga-iti, “E, Nu ?! e Nana ?! kiritia te kakao.” Kare i ? mai, e ? kapikianga, kare i ? mai. Kua karanga atu a Tou-tika kia Tonga-iti, “Kia kapiki au, ko nga ingoa o nga tiaki-vai, ‘e Tinai ?! e Te Pua-roa-iva ?! kiritia te kakao’.” Kua kiriti nga tiaki i te kakao, kua tae te vai i reira ki Avana, kua riro te re ia Tou-tiki. Kua eke i reira a Tonga-iti ma te vaine ki tai i Avarua. Te mea i riro ei te re ia Tou-tika, e taunga aia i te marae ra, ko Are-vananga, no reira aia i kite ei i te pikikaa.
Source JPS