The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-10-14
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
From the Samoan Reporter.
A Samoan Tradition.

TIE ORIGIN OF FIRE-The late DIR. Kitto, in one
OF the sections of his Daily Bible Illustrations, re-
marks. that fire was probably as unknown to Adam
rs it was unneeded by him, before the fall, and then
aIludes 70 some curious traditions respecting its dis
covery. 1t is beyond dispute, that islands and tribes
have been found, in various parts of the world, where
the use OF fire was quite unknown; and hence, we
may suppose, that the traditions in Samoa, on this
subject were, at some remote period, founded on fact.
The Samoans say, that there was a time when their
forefathers ate everything raw; and that they owe the
luxury of cooked food to one Tsiti'i, the son of a per-
son called Talanga. This Talanga was high in favor
with the earthquake god Mafuie, who, like the Vul-
can, OF the Greeks, lived in q subterranean region,
where there was FIRE continually burning. On going
to q certain perpendicular rock. and saying, Rock,
divide! 1 am Talanga; I have come to work - the
rock opened, and let TaIanga in; and he went below
to his plantation in the land of this god Mafaie. One
day, Ti'iti'i, the son of Talanga, followed his father,
and watched where he entered The youth, after a
time. went up to the rock, and, feigning his fathers
voice, said. Rock, divide! l am Talanga; I have
come to work. and was admitted too. His father
was at work in his plantation, was surprised to see
his IN there. and begged him not to talk loud, lest
the GOOD Mafuie should hear him, and be angry.
Dome You know he eats people - what do I care
for him"' said the daring youth; and off he went,
humming a song, towards the smoking furnace.
Who are you 80 said Mafuie.
"I am Ti'iti'i. the son of Talanga. I am come for
some fire."
Take it,. said Mafuie.
He went back to his father With ONE cinders, and
the two set to work to bake some ,ro. They kindled
a fire, and were preparing the taro to put on the hot
stones, when suddenly the god Mafuie blew up the
oven. scattered the stones all about. and put out the
Ore. "Now," said Talanga, " did not 1 tell you
Mafuie would be angry" T'iti'i went off in a
rage to Mafuie. and. without any ceremony. COM
menced with. /" Why have you broken up our oven,
and put out our fre:" Mafuie was indignant at
such q tone and language, rushed at him, and there
they wrestled with each other. Ti'iti'i got hold of
the right arm Of Mafuie, grasped il with both hands,
and gave it such a wrench that it broke of. He then
seized the other arm, and was going to twist it off
next. when Mafuie declared himself beaten, and i'm
plored Triti'i to have mercy, and spare his left arm
"Do let me have this srm,' said he; 81 need it to
hold Samoa straight and level. Give it to me, and
will let you have my hundred wives"
"No, not for that said TI-iti.i.
SWELL, then, will you take fire? If you let me
have my left arm, you shall have fire, and you may
ever after this eat cooked food"
agreed. !" said Ti'iti'i; you keep your arm, and
I have the fire"
&C.," said Mafuie; s.you will find the fire in
every pood you cut"
And hence, the story adds, Samoa, ever since the
days of T-iti'i, has eaten cooked food from the fire
which is got from the friction of rubbing one piece of
dry ucood against another.
The superstitious still have half an idea that Ma
fuie is down below Samoa somewhere; and that the
earth has q long handle there, like a walking stick,
which Mafuie gives a shake now and then. II was
for them to say, when they felt the shock of
an earthquake, Thanks to T.iti'i, that Mafuie has
only one arm il he had two, what a shake he would
give 2"
The natives OF Savage Island have a somewhat
similar tale about the origin of fire. Instead of Ia
langa and T'itii, they give the names Of Maui, the
father, and Maui the son. Instead of going through
a rock, their entrance was down through a reed bush.
And, instead of a stipulation for the fire, they say
the youth Maui, like another Prometheus, stole
ran up the passage, and before his father could
catch him, he had set the bush in flames in all di-
r~ections. The father tried to put it out. but in vain;
and, they further add, that ever since the exploit of
young Maui, they have had fire and cooked food in
Savage Island.
II is true what DR.. Kitto says, in the article to
which we have already referred ga volume-and
one of no common -interest-might be written on the
,rigin, the history, the traditions, the powers, and
he uses Of fire, which wss of old worshipped in many
lations as a gcd-"-DaiIy Bible Illustrations, Vol.
!, d. 104. {