Legend spins tall yarn

Press, 28 June 1983, Page 27

Legend spins tall yarn

Once upon a time, on a small Pacific Island, lived a couple and their young daughter, who longed for the day when she would be old enough to go fishing on her own. That day came, and her very first catch was a fine eel. As she carried it proudly home the eel changed into a handsome young man, and it was he whom she brought home to her parents. Over the next several days, the young couple fell deeply in love, but the young man knew that he had to return to the river; had to change back into an eel again. The girl was heartbroken, so her eel-lover made her a promise — that he would always be with her and her people and that they would be able to use “all of his parts" for ever. He asked her to release him and promised that the next day there would be a wild storm. “The flood water will come right up to your house. When you see me, chop off my head and bury it by your door.” All happened as he said and the girl did as he asked. She and her family visited the grave each day and soon saw the plant which came from it grow tall and lush and bear fruit. She remembered what her lover had said: “Use every part of me." And so it is, even today. The green fruit of the coconut quenches thirst; the ripe fruit is used in cooking and for its oil; its leaves are woven for matting and shelter; the trunk is a building support; the husk can be woven into rope; and the bark used as a strainer. If you look closely at a coconut fruit, you will see that it looks like the head of an eel. And a coconut will never fall on you because, like an eel, and the young man of the legend, it has eyes with which to watch you with love.