ISLAND SKETCHES.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 November 1903, Page 120

ISLAND SKETCHES.

By K. E. LEEFE

Illustrated by the Author

VAKIOHjVS fate.

The Bridegroom's doors are opened wide, And 1 am next of kin, Tho guests are met, the feast is set, Mny'st hear the merry din. — Coleridge

§T was a burning tropical day, and the white coral i Court-house at Motusa was insufferably hot ; at least so thought its occupants as they vainly fanJij|p£_j ned themselves. Outside, 7,1^/ the cool, green foliage )f(P looked very tempting, and i{ the palms softly swished their long arms to the North-East breeze. The pale-green and blue waters of the lagoon danced in the morning sunlight, canoes flitted here and there, bearing happy children of nature whose mirthful laughter echoed faintly over the sparkling water. But still the occupants of the Court-house were not to be tempted out, for there was business this sunny morning. It consisted of two weddings, and the Commissioner waited to give the licences. Evidently the little green lizards did not feel the heat as they darted after flies across the stone floor. At last the bridal parties arrived, the first bride was not particularly pretty, her hair was a bright sunny brown, her expression meek and gentle, her costume consisted of a loose blouse affair, trimmed with many coloured ribbons, and a kukuluga (waist-cloth) of blue. The bridegroom was short and sturdy,

and very plainly dressed in a white [singlet and black kukuluga and the übiquitous silk handkerchief knotted round his neck. " Koia Gagaja " — " Good morning, Chief " — they murmured as they sank on a mat at the Commissioner's feet. Old Friday, the interpreter, gave a snort of satisfaction as he sat clown and made, as usual, a questionable joke to the bride ; for old Friday is a connoisseur where pretty girls are concerned, and considers himself a privileged person. The second party now entered, and the natives bow their heads, as the bride and bridegroom sit down ; they are evidently a superior family. Vakiora, the bride, was an extremely beautiful type of Rotuman, of middle-height and haughty carriage, soft curling black hair hung round her shapely shoulders, her features were very regular, with soft, dreamy dark eyes veiled with sweeping lashes, and to make all perfect, a creamy complexion slightly tinged with pink. Her vinivore of yellow set off her matchless beauty well, on her head was a wreath of sweet scented flowers. The bridegroom, a tall, strapping young man with a bright, smiling face sat proudly iby his lovely bride. " That's a love match, sir," says the old interpreter, as he winks his

one good eye. " Setoki Malalao is Vakiora's first cousin, and the old people on both sides object to their marriage, but there will be plenty of piss and mats all the same," says Friday wickedly.

Rotuma, later he was adopted by a planter in South America, and later still he went to one of the first gold rushes in Australia. But this little story is not about our old interpreter, perhaps some day old Friday's life and his adventures with Bully Hayes may be the subject of one of these sketches, who knows ?

Friday is a much- travelled old. gentleman, and consequently snorts at these " queer Rotuman customs." Although a Rotuman born, he considers himself as one infinitely superior—a sort of walking " Enquire Within," and indeed he is very learned, and has led an exciting life. As cabin boy on a whaler he left

After answering all the necessary questions, and there being no impediment to the marriage, the bridesmaid pays the fee and escorts Vakiora to her home, while the groomsman does the same for Se-

toki. After the bridegroom and his family have partaken of food for the last time as. one family, the whole district escorts him to his bride, with many -white mats, pigs, and articles of food, a root of kava being the forerunner. The bride in the meantime also has partaken of food and broken bread for the last time as a maid. After the missionary performs his. part of the ceremony, the newly-married couple seat themselves side by side on a throne of white mats, the bride's maiden lock of hair, a curl over one ear, is snipped off, many other old customs are observed, and they are man and wife. Now, even in these enlightened days there is still a witch woman on this Island. She dwells in Savelei, the town of sparkling beaches, where the solemn hefau trees spread their mighty arms as if to protect and shield these glittering gems, and the air is always heavy with their delicious scent. Savika, the witch, is a wonderful woman, no one can tell her age, she being older than any person in Rotuma." For ages past the eldest daughter of her family has taken the name and received the power as soon as her parent departs for Li marae, the Rotuman heaven ; therefore the witch of Savelei is sometimes a young and beautiful woman. Many young people go with a pig and food to this Sybil to have their fortunes told, and the sick are taken to her to be healed. Although all the people of Savelei are law abiding, religion has no power there. Savika is their God, she has proved herself to them in every way superior to other deities. Did she not bring the great -wind which destroyed the plantations of those who disobeyed her ? Did not the Malahaha chief lose his girl-wife and the, child she bore him, because he scoffed at Savika's power, and drank , of the kava before a libation had been poured out in her honour ? Aye, and many more things could these people tell, if they chose, relating to the witch's vengeance. When

Tip-os brother fell from the giant hefau tree in Savelei, the relations flew to the witch for help. She said to the injured man's brothers, '"' Go, Tir.o and Jone, carry this mat and spread it beneath the tree your brother fell from, and bring the first thing that drops into the mat, and lay it on the sick man, for it will be his spirit, and he shall live. Roll the mat up quickly and speak no word. Hark ye ! if ye speak a word your brother shall die ! " They hastened to do as they were told, and the first thing that fell into the mat was a lizard of green and golden hue. Quickly did they roil up the mat and sped homewards ; but indeed they were tempted sorely. Out of the bush in front of them stepped a lovely girl, singing very sweetly. She held a golden orange in one hand, and offered it to them with many kind words. Jone the youngest was very thirsty, and taking the orange, he said " Noia " — thanks. Tipo shivered and ran faster, and reaching the house, laid the mat on his brother ; but the witch rose from the dark end of the house and cried out : " Tipo ! did not Jone speak when I sent the spirit to try thee ? " " Yes, 0 Mother of Wisdom,, but I held the mat and turned not my head, so spare my brother." " Then, 0 faithful one, ye shall see your brother live as ye tbrought back his spirit, but never more shall he mingle with the dancers on the sparkling beaches, the power of movement shall be his no more. And through your disobedience, young fool," she .'hissed at Jone, " ye shall pass to Li marae with the wasting sickness," and saying this she vanished. All came to pass as she predicted, and before the scarlet blossoms came on the drala tree, the sign of the season to plant the yams, Jone had reached the land of the departed spirits. But to our story. The marriage revelry was at its height, and all looked fair and bright for the young couple, when a shadow fell across

the door near the bridal throne, and Savika stood before them. "Woman of Wisdom, welcome ! " croaked an old dame. A silence fell upon all, broken by Savika.

" Hark ye to me," she said, " and leave thy honeyed speeches for fools." The dancers crowded behind the throne in awe as the witch continued, " Know ye, all people of Motusa, that I come to bless at marriages, also to curse ; aye, ye may well shrink, 0 Vakiora and Setoki, ye know well I come not to bless ye ! Are ye not breaking the old Rotuman law, blood of kin shall not wed ? Did ye not come to me for my blessing, girl of the beautiful race, blood of my blood ? for ye are great grandchildren of the good old

king of Halafa, whose blood also flows in my veins ; ye have spread your marriage mat, now sleep on it, fair ones, at your peril," cried Savika, her words ending in a weird shriek.

" Oh, cease, cease, Woman of Wisdom ! " cried out Vakiora, as she rose and stood with outstretched arms ; " W r hat have we done that ye should curse us ? Do we not love each other ? Blood of our blood, cea«e, and forgive us in our innocence, by the stones of Mua we swear that we see no sin in our marriage, is not our love for each other enough ? Look at many other marriages in this land where the old force the young to marry ; they part and live ever after in sin."

Vakiora paused, and very queenly and grand she looked, but it moved not the heart of the stern Savika.

" Say not, ' Cease,' to me, fool ; your wondrous beauty moves the hearts of men, but not mine ; know you how your grandmother died ? As beautiful and wilful as you, she married also her cousin,, and my curse fell upon them. Why groan ye, people ? I break no secret, not yet shall she know how her grandmother died ; nay, my revenge is sweeter, she shall learn the way. A short time, and ye shall doubt each other and quarrel, then, ha, ha !

my revenge ! Still I forgive if ye part now at this door." Setoki stood beside his wife, and drawing her close to him said, " Woman of Wisdom, I fear you not in this thing ; we part, if at all, on the shores of Li marae, to meet again in the sunny land of dancers." " Yea, fools, ye part on Li marae, and meet again, maybe, but ye shall

suffer before ye gain that land of perpetual bliss, aye, and even now one of you is almost stepping into the canoe which bears ye to Li marae, land of the sunset. Guess my riddle, which is it, think ye ? " thus spake Savika.

" Mother of Wisdom, spare my husband, let the punishment fall upon my head," pleaded Vakiora.

"Ha, ha ! leave that to me. But one thing more, you shall bear no children, blood of blood shall no

longer mingle in your family." And saying this, Savika turned and drank of the kava and departed.

On the South side of Motusa, where the soft breezes whisper sighing secrets' among the palms and hefaus, stands a high fuog-ri (foundation) of grey stones covered with wild honeysuckle, on this is built the Setoki's picturesque ri (house). Six months have passed since their marriage, and not a shadow has crossed the sunny pathway of their lives. On this bright November morning Vakiora sits on the fuog-ri weaving a mat with deft fingers, while four laughing girls help her, a fifth lolls in a graceful attitude and is, employed making a cigarette, which, when complete, she passes to her mistress. Vakiora threw her mat aside, work was forgotten while, woman-like, they gossiped. One girl remarked that the witch of Savelei had predicted foolishly, as Vakiora was so happy. " True, 0 chief woman, ye ■do not yet bear your chief a son, but ye are like unto lovers. Nay, blush not, Vakiora, the chief of Li marae hath indeed smiled on thee." Was it fate or what ? A mocking laugh disturbed the girls, and made Vakiora shudder. On the sand beneath stood the gaunt form of Savika ! Her long unkempt hair fell round her shoulders like seasnakes, one arm outstretched held a staff in a threatening manner. " So, Mali, thou sayest I predict foolishly, beware, thou fool, how thy foolish tongue doth wag ! " In a mournful cracked voice ahe then chanted some old Rotuman incantations, making mystic signs with her staff. Then she departed as silently as she had come. The startled girls turned to where the staff had pointed, and there stood by them a young Rotuman youth. Vakiora gave a sigh of relief, " Oh, welcome, cousin ; yon hag hath startled us," she, exclaimed. Kito was this youth's name, and he was a cousin of Vakiora's and

Setoki's. All knew him as a ne'er-do-well, he never planted or worked, he lived on his relations of the Noagu family. Yet, strange to say —nay, is it strange ?— all women loved him ; his was the form among the dancers that their bright eyes followed. " Ah,' fair cousin, I bring some scented blossoms and beg you to be good-natured and weave me a tufui (garland), for to-night we dance, as the moon is fair, and the sands are bright." Thus spake Kito. " That will I do, 0 Kito. Did ye see Setoki among the fishers ? " " Nay, fairest of women, Setoki is better employed, he sits with Nafrua, the beauty of my tribe, and she weaves him a garland," answered the false Kito. Setoki had gone to speak with his uncle, but Kito cared not for truth. When his eyes fell upon Vakiora he loved her, and hated Setoki. Now Rotuman women are intensely jealous, and generally they have just cause. Vakiora' s eyes flashed, as she replied : " Why should she not weave him a tufui, fool ? All slaves work for their masters." But the poison sank deeply, and henceforth she had not perfect trust in her husband. Kito's eyes gleamed with delight as he joined the dancers that night, his tufui being the most beautiful, and Vakiora had woven it. Setoki heard with bitter anger and surprise that his wife had made another man a tufui. Looking everywhere for her to express his feelings, he at length saw her beneath the palms with a group of Rotuman maidens. He strode forward to ask her the truth, but she looked so wondrous fair in her white robe that his heart failed him, and his anger melted before her lovely face ; he only asked her for a suluka. But even as Kito's words had rankled in Vakiora' s mind, so did this tufui trouble Setoki, and henceforth the sombre figure, Suspicion, dwelt in the little ri on the fuog-ri. The once joyous voice of Vakiora was seldom heard over her mat-

weaving, and the old people were glad, for they said : " See ye ! Setoki and Vakiora repent their illmatched marriage ; the time is almost ready for us to separate them." For dear as these children were to their parents, dearer was their selfishness and the prophecy of the witch. Now Vakiora 's Aunt, Vikitoria, was one of the most bitter against this marriage, moreover, she was embued with the idea that she was the chosen one to carry out the wish of the old people that this young couple should be separated. One morning Vikitoria heard that there had been a quarrel in Setoki' s ri, and felt that now was the time to breed dissension between husband and wife ; she accordingly set out, armed with superstition and Rotuman selfishness, to advise Vakiora to return with her. In the meantime things had reached a climax between the married couple. On the evening before, Setoki, on entering his ri, saw Kito kneeling at Vakiora' s feet telling her of his great love. Vakiora listened with a startled expression on her girlish face. Before she could express her disgust, Setoki entered. "Ye creature of the evil one ! what do ye here ? " he cried, as he sprang at^ Kito, knife in hand ; but Kito quickly made his retreat to escape Setoki's just anger. Then turning to his wife, Setoki said : "So, fairest woman of Rotuma, you dare to receive your lovers in my ri ! You whom I love, no longer fair in name, go, follow him if you will, but he dies to-morrow !" Vakiora threw her arms round her husband. " Do you not see how great is my love for thee, Setoki ? That creature surprised me. True, I made him a tufui, fool that I was ! But did I not call him 'brother ? ' By the stones of Mua I am innocent ! " Her lovely arms fell from his neck, and she looked as only a proud, -wounded Rotuman can, with their -wonderful dark eyes so full of

pathos. " 0 Setoki, if you doubt my word, and call me no longer fair in name, and thy love hath gone, fare thee well, Li marae is not fat away." Her soft, pleading tone had changed to a haughty note ; she turned from her husband. " Stay, Vakiora, my trust is still with thee, stay and tell me why have you changed to me ? Have I not loved thee, little one, and been true to thee ? Why ask you that destroyer of women to this ri ? " and he took her in his arms. " 0, Setoki, my beloved, do you not see I loved Kito as a brother, and he has changed it to bitterness ? Leave me not, my husband ; let not Savika's curse come true, for see you, Setoki, I think one thing she spake shall prove untrue." " It will be well to show a son to the old people, then this ceaseless worry about our marriage will end ;. kiss me, lovely one. I rise early tomorrow 7 to go to my land at Losa, but will be with thee when the sun sinks to rest." " Promise me first, Setoki, not to spill our cousin's blood, this thing I beg of thee ! " " Why do you shiver, fair one, is it from fear ? " he asked. " Nay, Setoki, my head troubles me greatly with pain," Vakiora pressed her hand to her temple. " It will be well now we understand one another," she said gaily. Setoki left his smiling wife on the fuog-ri at sunrise, happy that they were at peace with each other. As he left the beach he waved his hand to Vakiora, the beautiful ; and so they parted. Vikitoria arrived early ; seeing only an old woman with Vakiora, she straightway attacked her. " Think not that thy husband is true to thee, fool, even now hath he gone to see his love ; aye, and many heard him say ye were but fair in face, and no longer in name. He, too, killed a pig for fak-soro (pardon) to the wise woman, and begged her to release him from you." Vikitoria was not prepared for

the look that came into her niece's face, also she shrank from a glittering thing Vakiora drew from her dress. " Cease speaking, woman, ye know 'tis false ! " cried the poor girl. " I speak what is true, Vakiora, come with me, and leave thy worthless husband ; come, or I shall know thee as a shameless woman ! " Vakiora, provoked beyond endurance, sprang to her feet. " Go before I kill you," she exclaimed, "no more shall tongues of wickedness come between my hus-

she could see her husband's canoe returning it would give her strength to put away her dreadful idea. A voice startled her, it was Kito's. " Weep," said he in a sneering tone. " You refused my love, proud creature, but my relations shall think otherwise." With the cry of a wounded spirit, Vakiora fled into the ri and shut the door. A Rotuman ri has only one large room. A large mosquito screen at one end is the sleeping apartment ; to this Vakiora went, and, changing her garments hastily,

band and me ! Depart, creature of the evil one ! "

" I have spoken, 0 Vakiora," and the unscrupulous woman departed. Vakiora sent her attendant out fishing. Left alone, she wept bitterly. Wild ideas (made her start to her feet, crying, " Oh, I love thee, yet bring thee nothing but trouble ; shall it end thus ? It is to be, 0 chief ! " She seemed afraid of herself, and went out on the fuog-ri, as if for help. She could see Losa in the distance, the sunlight danced on the waters of many colours. If only

she chose a vivivore of white, and a gay kukuluga, also a garland of Setoki' s, which the threw round her neck. Then with feverish haste she scented her hair, and put six dabs of meu (Persian red) on each cheek, and she was at once dressed for a dance, or last appearance preparatory to departing for Li marae. Her costume being complete, she stood a moment with outstretched arms towards Losa, " Farewell, beloved ! " she cried. " Yea, it was my poor grandmother's fate, and it is mine also. 0, cruel Savika, thou

art right, my shadow shall follow thee ! Setoki, beloved, farewell ! " A quarter of an hour later the women returned from the reef. A laughing girl pushed open the door of Setoki' s ri. With a gasp and shriek she flew out.

" Why shriek ye like the evil one ? " asked a woman. The girl only sobbed and pointed to the ri. Tw r o men came and entered ; no wonder the girl was shocked. Suspended from the low rafters hung the beautiful Vakiora !

Vakiora sat in state with a crown of flowers on her head, her wondrous beauty was more striking than ever. " How is this, 0 woman ? " asked a European of an old dame, " that this loveliness is not distorted after so violent a death ? " " 0 Chief, that is because the Chief of Li marae hath smiled on her," was the confident reply. But

the white man was wise and shook his head. " They say she was mamahahala (warm) and perspired when taken down, it's a shame there is no Government doctor provided on this island. Strange that her grandmother did likewise — madness, I presume." He lit his pipe and strolled away.

So came to pass the witch of Savelei 's curse, and Vakiora, the beautiful, reached Li marae, the land of the sunset. And Setoki, the forsaken, built ari over the grave of his beloved in the white cemetery by the sea ; and in this ri he sleeps every night. '■ But long upon Araby's green sunny highlands Shall maids and their lovers remember the doom Of her, who lies sleeping among the pearl islands, With nought but the sea star to light up her tomb."— MoOßE.