The legend of the Tagimaucia

By Serenia Senikavika

MY grandmother told me the legend of how the Tagimaucia came to be on the island of Taveuni.

Lone lone aeo when the first Fijk„s g ianded in they separated and some groups came to Taveuni while others went on to Kadavu, Beqa, Ovalau and other islands.

Leading the people that came to this island was an old chief by the name of Ratu Kabunavanua. He had a son who was a courageous young man.

No sooner had they settled on this beautiful island, when fleets of canoes from Tonga came to attack them.

The little groups fought back, but they were outnumbered by the brave Tongan warriors. There was confusion, and blood soaked the white sand as clubs clashed and thudded as they hit human heads. Spears were thrown back and forth and shuddered as they hit the bare chests of the warrlors - The fight went on until nightfall, and b- the light of the full moon, the two parties could identify their enemies. Among the Tongan warriors was a witch doctor, and he came face to face with Ratu Maucia Gusu ni Deveta, Ratu Kabunavanua’s son.

Ratu Maucia was ready to strike when the witch doctor called out, “I beg you, don’t kill me, spare me and

let me be your canoe-cutter”. But the young warrior was determined to club his enemy, and so the witch doctor predicted, "If you kill me,

Tnd

i; . § , . ■ t K-^ rnniintn f n<s IIv SJg a will hi wt no (Se to tdk to . lonelv As for Adi Tale y iko asawa b you n ot see her aj / she become the wife £ Tonean chief!”

R • ’ anprv thaf he str^c \ tU d^ C L w tch doctor Then s u dden , y realised Slat he waj the

, J. , . d his

sl™?"^ dead He there k - at tbe dead enemies and The nieht was stUl except f , t g earine through the coconilt i eaV es The g lieht of the f lifeless § bodies and d heads of t h e warriors. His f „ onto the club c utche d in his hand; it was soaked with blood.

The canoes of the Tongans floated peacefully on the calm sea by the shore. Suddenly he thought of the witch doctor s words. No sooner had he remembered, when he felt himself changing and soon he was an eagle.

He found himself flying towards the mountains of Uluiqalau, and there he located a cave for himself on the shore of the lake.

\ Di Tal.Eikoyasawa Was The

A lovely daughter of Ratu Robana wasaliwa, and they lived in the Yasawas. She was promised to Ratu Maucia ' When she heard ab ° W the eagle, she asked her father if she could visit il - Her father allowed this and, when she reached the lake, she £id not want to return. She saw the huge eagle crying and tears were fall mg from the tree where ll perched, The tears dripped onto the branches and leaves. Her father’s men, on see J n S ‘he eagle, to <* s P R ea^ and clubs and sought to kill it. Ratu Wasakarakarawa, Adi Taleikoya sawa’s younger brother, threw his s P ear and il stmck lar^e eagle - As soon as lt touched the bird ’ s breast, a burst of tiny drops of blood flowed down the tree. The eagle stained the other trees and bushes where it flew m its pam. The eagle ‘hen flew right into the lake and dis appeared, Tq this d the drops of b i ood are said tQ hay& changed into the rarest flower in p... the tagimaucia (h i s which means “to name and tap which mens to cry ). So, when you tree, you will be sure to notice drops of water or tears on it.