Durwaqa

By J. Matatolu Rokosoi

MY uncle told me this story about his trip with his parents to a wedding held at Vusisivo village in Natewa, Cakaudrove on the island of Vanua Levu.

Before we arrived there, he said, we had heard of a man in the district who was noted for his limitless capacity to “gulp” any amount of water when asked.

For some time we regarded it as idle gossip. On our way there we were determined to find out more about him.

As it is customary when two neighbouring tribes were brought together on a social occasion, we had no doubt that our hosts would readily make Duruwaqa, the man in question, available to publicly entertain us. Therefore we weren’t surprised that the Chief of the district anticipated our request. Duruwaqa was there with a bucket of water.

A crowd gathered in the Chief’s bure. In front among the elders was a short, middle-aged man.

“Dear friends, our honoured guests,” the Chief began, “let Duruwaqa decide”.

Duruwaqa nodded his head to the Chief and turned in the direction of a big bucket full of water brought especially for his performance. Two men had already lifted it and placed it in the centre of the bure.

“No! No! Right in the centre”, cautioned Duruwaqa accompanied by a chorus of elders near him. The men shifted the bucket a few inches more so that it was in full view of everyone in the bure. Duruwaqa then con fidently and quietly moved near the bucket, placed his hands on the edge of it, rested on his heels, lowered his head and began drinking in one long continuous “gulp”.

My uncle narrowed his eyes and reiterated slowly, “Mind you, it wasn’t drinking at all. Duruwaqa sucked the contents in one go. The bucket held about four gallons of water but it took him only about two minutes to suck it all before he lifted the bucket and turned it upside down to show the crowd. It was empty.

“A sigh of amazement from everyone broke the silence. Not a single drop of water remained. Then, as if to confuse us even further, he suddenly opened his mouth wide and ejected the whole lot back into the bucket. The water shot out with tremendous pressure just like a tap and in no time the bucket was full again”.

My uncle followed Duruwaqa around like a puppy for days but his attempts to emulate Duruwaqa’s feat were fruitless.