A legend from the Gilbert Islands

By Ieruru Karotu

ALONG time ago there was a couple living on an islet of Buariki at North Tarawa in the Gilbert Is lands. Both were young and happy and they always enjoyed everything they did on their island.

One day, Tabontatang fell sick but it was not very serious so Naakun, her husband, told her not to do any work in the house. Unfortunately, she became worse. The husband tried his best to find a cure but it was no use. Tabontatang died after three days. Oh, poor Naakun. He was left crying all day and night. The next day, he began jump : ng up and down, shout ing out his beloved wife’s name.

Finally he went to the ocean side, yelling and shouting ‘Tabontatang oh!

Tabontatang oh!”

Soon a reply came like an echo and it made Naakun frightened. The Ghostess, Nei Tutuabine asked, “What are you crying about? Can I help you?” Naakun was surprised. He lifted up his head and with a smile he said “Oh. please, help me. My wife died three days ago. Could you tell me where she is now?”

The Ghostess told Naakun that his wife had not died but was assisting the other dead people to support the sky. However, the Ghostess com manded Naakun to go with her to find his missing wife.

Off they swam through the big waves. On the way, the Ghostess ad vised Naakun who was riding on her back, to hold on firmly because they were approaching the village at the bottom of the sea. She also reminded him that if he saw a butterfly that was the sign that they were getting close to the village. All these things came true and Naakun proved that there was indeed a village at the bottom of the sea. Nei Tutuabine guided Naakun in the village and instructed him what to do before he entered.

Naakun did what he was told. He walked through the village while the Ghostess waited for him. Unex pectedly, Naakun heard a soft voice calling “Naakun,. Naakun. Come here and help me. I’m nearly dead”. Naa kun became rather nervous so he didn’t move. Soon he was filled with courage and, eager to see his beloved wife’s face again he managed to get inside the house. Suddenly he met a woman whose hair was white and whose eyes shone like the full moon.

Her legs were as thin as a stick of coconut frond and she had teeth painted red. She had just been eating some people. But in spite of these digressions, Naakun kept looking at the beams of the house where he sud denly recognised his wife’s face bring ing back all the beautiful memories of her.

The woman asked Naakun to come a bit closer, pretending to treat him like a son but she really intended to eat him. Luckily, Naakun knew all about these tricks because Ghostess Tutuabine had told him about them.

So, Naakun pretended to do what the old woman wanted, then he quickly grabbed his wife’s eyes and ran off quickly with them.

The cannibal woman chased Naa kun for dear life but Naakun was

way ahead of her. To give herself some energy, she cut and ate one of her own legs. Poor Naakun. While he was trying to escape, his legs got caught in a coconut log lying on the ground. He fell but managed to escape because he was about 10 yards ahead.

The old woman did not catch up to Naakun even though she had eaten her other leg to give her more energy.

Nei Tutuabine appeared and fought the old woman. Finally, Naakun re turned home happily riding on the back of the Ghostess Tutuabine and clutching the eyes of his wife.

There is an islet at North Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands where Naakun stayed with Tabontatang until she died. Even today some Gilbertese still believe that there is a village at the bottom of the sea.