How fire came to Samoa
Back, far back, in the mists of time when the world was very young there was a man named Eta and his two sons called Tame and Meta. They lived in a small village on the island of Samoa.
The village worshipped Mafui’e, the earthquake goddess. They believed that Mafui’e had flames that would never go out. No one would eat their food cooked because they hadn't discovered fire.
Eta was always exhausted when he came back from work. His two sons asked him “why are you exhausted every time you come home, you do more work at work then at home.”. Their father replied “It is because I lift the wood and take all of it to the wood shops”. His two sons didn’t believe him so they had a plan to follow him so they can see what he does.
By the time their father bolted to work Tame and Meta were still sleeping because they stayed up all night planning. The next day they were wide awake before their father woke up. When Eta woke up he thought that he would ride the horse to work so he did. The two boys followed him silently. Eta heard some noises, he quickly some back and as fast as lighting, the boys hid behind a bumpy black rock. Tame asked Meta, “We should travel through the trees so we don’t get caught”.
When they climbed through all the trees they wondered why he was looking at a massive mountain. Their father stood there for 30 minutes until they heard him say “I call upon Mafui’e, the earthquake goddess, open the door”. Suddenly, Tame and Meta’s eyes opened up and they gazed at the mountain while the rocks moved and the doors slammed open. Eta walked through and his two sons followed him and tried to stay hidden.
By the time they strolled through the mountain their father was praying to Mafui’e. The boys could see a whole farm full of crops, animals and fire. They could smell the cooked food and straight away the leaped to eat it. Their father saw them and told them to go away and leave this food here. Tame asked him “Why don’t we have food like this at home”. All of a sudden everyone could hear the loud footsteps of Mafui’e. “Why are you eating my food, who do you think you are, coming into my house and eating all my food”. Meta replied “Sorry sir, I mean mam, I just wanted to taste some cooked food”.
Mafui’e was angry so she tried to kill the two boys. Luckily they knew how to fight and they fought her until she gave up and let them have some fire.
Don’t be greedy and share because sharing is caring.
Very interesting story. Well done! I like the little twist at the end. Did you make this story up yourself? or are you retelling it in your own words?
ReplyDelete