AN OLD FIJIAN MYTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13698, 14 March 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

AN OLD FIJIAN MYTH.

BY D. C. CHALMERS. "What seekest thou, my white friend —a tale of ours? Come, then, list while ye may, for time is passing and soon there will be none who remember. •' This tale I had from my father and he from his, and so it goes back unto the age of darkness. 'Tis of Tui Kauvandra —aye — the ruler of yonder mountains—and of Adi Vuya (the princess who hovers o'er Vuya). Tui Kauvandra was young, and there were none who could compare with him in war, or in peace: and his father, Tui Naceva, ruled Fiji. Years before a strange craft had come drifting to land—and in it lay a woman whose fairness was even like unto the mists of morning, but the king feared the evil eye, and bade two women seize and carry her to the hillside. Many days passed while they tended and fed the stranger — but one day they returned saying, 'When the mists of the morning rose, she went unto the hill-top and we followed afar listening and the sun shone in splendour where she stood, and we heard the voice of the running waters crying unto her, and she cried back to them and then we were afraid and ran. In the noon-time we returned and where she had stood lay a childbut she had joined the spirits. 0 king, here lies the child—what is they will? And the king hearing this tale, feared the anger of the strange spirit, and commanded that the child should be as one of his, that the fair one's spirit might do ...him no hurt. ■ And the child was a girland her name Adi Vuya. It chanced that she and Tui Kauvandra grew to the age of marriage,' and a great love sprang up in their hearts; but Tui Kauvandra was the second son, and now that Tui Naceva lay sleeping his eldest, Tui Cakau reignedand the new ruler caused it to be proclaimed that he would wed Adi Vuya. When the news went abroad Tui Kauvandra was troubled in spirit, and one evening when the Mistress of the Night sent soft glances where tne nukunuku trees sigh, and quiet the dead and mighty chiefs, it chanced the lovers —and were found, and Tui Kauvandra fled. The whale's tooth was. sent far and wide with messengers to seek him out., and a chief whose flesh was soft surrendered the fugitive. A great feast was prepared, and a great tire lighted, and the king was preparing to burn Tui Kauvandra. The multitude stood by as the culprit was led to the stake and fastened there—and the faggots were lighted. Then of a sudden the heavens caught tire and the earth shook as a storm-torn tree, and where Tui Kauvandra stood many and wonderful flames of lire leaped forth—then all was quiet; and when each man looked upon the oilier—Lo! —he was blind of an eye. Tui Kauvandra had vanished. But the new king recked not, and his desire to wed was stronger, for on the morrow he would take Adi Vuya ! to wife. " The morrow came and the feasts were spreadheaps as high as a house— yams and taio, of mats and vono— the maidens chanted, the song of the feast, and the kava bowl was passed from hand to hand, that ■the chiefs might drink. And oven as the least progressed and the time of the wedding came, a cry arose, 'A Nigo! A Xigo!' (A shark! A shark!), and the warriors rushed thither with their spears, but before they could strike, the great fish spoke, and out of" Us belly came Tui Kauvandra— his size was that of three men. The fish 'remained, but 'twas turned to stone. Without a word Tui Kauvandra strode to the feast, but ere he reached the side of Adi Vuya, black rage seized the king, and raising his spear he transfixed Adi. Instantaneously the king was withered and dead, and the fear in his dead eyes was terrible to behold. Then Tui Kauvandra spake, My brethern, I am summoned to yon Kauvandra Mountains to rule the spirits of (nose who sleep, but fear not. for one shall stay and watch.' Then Tui Kauvandra vanished, and the dead Adi rose, and taking unto herself the form of a white cloud hovered in the blue sky overhead, but ever as the sun sets, and darkness seeks the land Adi, tired with her long vigil, seeks the summit of the Kauvandras. and there in one long embrace the lovers lie, till day summon them to their duties. But beware, ye who wander near yon mountains when night is nigh, for the lovers whisper to each other, and no mortal may hear such whisperings j and live."