The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-01-10
SPECIMEN OF ANCIENT
TAHITIAN POETRY.

By the kindness of Miss Teuira
Henry, L am enabled to lay before the
Pelynesian Society the text and literal
TRANSACTIONS of few Tahitian poems.
The first was written down by the Rev.
j. NJ. Orsmond in 1924. at the island
OF Raiatea, but is still reclted by some
OF the old natives at the present day.
1t is supposed to be chanted by one
Moanarai, whose wife has deserted him.
Standing on the southwest point of
Ralatea-called Tainuu-he watches the
canoe that is carrying his wife, Aitofa,
past Tahaa, to the neighboring island
OF Borabora, and gives vent to his feel
lngs in the following poetical lament.
Although it contains a few difficult
passages, it is believed that the follow
ing is faithful, but perhaps made,
quate, rendering of the originals:
Come back from Toa, o Aitofa,
0 my beautiful erring spouse!
AS the rapid flow of the current at
Onoiau,
And as the swollen torrent from the
valley,
So flows my yearning heart after thee.
o Aitofa, have compassion on thy lover
lest he die!
The promontory of Tainuu has become
beautifed (by thee).
The husband will fear, will shrink, will
faint at the disappearance,
At the return of the love of the cherish
ed wife,
Of that face SO bright and beautiful.
Look whichever way he will, she seems
to be still down there.
| The moon sinking into the western
shades is the image of the husband
| The image of Moanarai at this moment
AS great cloud obscuring the sky il
his grief,
The grief of the husband mourning fol
| his estranged wife,
And like the sky darkened by its rising
is my distress for her.
Alas for me! Alas for me! my little
wife,
| My darling has gone astray!
My little beautiful hayward spouse,
My friend who made my heart brave
My friend in the storm has been stole1
away.
A wreath of the fara tree, garland O.
| Pandanus blossoms I have gathered
for thee,
o Aitofa, and 10! thou art flown.
All, woe is met Is it thus that tho1
| shouldst treat me?
Lo, thou art drifting away over thu
| ripples in the Aoa shadows,
Thou art passing the fragrant vale o.
Vavaara,
And leaving Mt Rotui, the upper jaw
of Hades, behind thee.
Thou hast forsaken thy favorite bathing
| place with its clear water,
And thy Tiare (Gardenia) bush thai
blossoms without ceasing.
Alas for thee, Aitofal Thou art little
toy canoe that the wind carrie:
| away.
Alas for my anguish and the rage Of
my hearth
All me, I despair and think of suicide
| I am possessed with frenzy. Alas fol
us both!
The mind of the husband gives up tht
effort to win back thy love.
Alas for my darling! Thy fair face i:
lost from sight.
There is no benefit from the home.
A piercing thorn to me, pretty thorr
! to me Cart thou).
| What is my fault for which thou ar
vexed, o my wife,
For which thou has disdained me9
Why hast thou cut the cord of love
and deserted me?
An evil working woman.
AS long continued storm is my anger
At the throbbing within, within me,
Ny bowels yearn, my heart flows on
| after thee.
I am chilled with lingering affection TO
thee, o Aitofa, returnl
Here is bunch of red feathers for thee
Here is wreath of scarlet feathers fo1
thee,
Here is necklace of beautiful pearl.
| for thee,
| Here is thy home.
T apn Nooperai +bv husband