To Macgregor Index

To Tagroa

Category:

Religion

Topic:

District gods (1)

Consultant:

Nataniela

The first gods to come to Rotuma were the hanlepherua, who came from Samoa with Raho. "They were mana to Raho, but not to this island."

The second gods to come to Rotuma were Tuisavarara and Sinetevao. Tuisavarara was the father of Tokainiua and the god of Noa'tau. Sinatevao was the mother of Tokainiua and sister of Tuisavarara. She was ashamed and ran into the bush of Oinafa where she entered the woman of the bush, Hanitemausa.

These are the two gods whom the people of Noa'tau and Oinafa call upon in their "ki" at burials.

The third god was Ragafuata, the god of Faguta. He had great mana, and was the highest god of that district to whom the people appealed. (He was probably the god appealed to at burials.)

The fourth god was Moata, the cock. He was supposed to be a giant who lived at Lau. He was the god of Itu'ti'u, and appealed to at burials in the ki. In the ki, the district god was called upon and then the sun and moon.

Ki

Tokainiua, moumou ki.. i.. i..i

Asta ma hualta moumou ki.. ki.. ki.. i..i

Meaning was given by Nataniele, "I call upon Tokainiua, the god of Noa'tau and the sun and the moon which are the two eyes of Tagroa."

mana = divine potency

ki = chants

Category:

Religion

Topic:

District gods (2)

Consultant:

Tavai

The two gods of Malhaha are Ravak and Mavai. Ravak was a former Malhaha chief who was deified. He lived as the head of the 'oroi off Malhaha. This Malhaha 'oroi was over the horizon and faced away from the island. But when a man or woman died they prayed to Fa Mavai or Han Mavai to take care of the dead.

'oroi = unseen region; land of the dead

Category:

Religion

Topic:

District gods (3)

Consultant:

C. Jacobsen

Ravaka
He was a Noa'tau man because the Noa'tau people sent him off in a canoe (fiu'aki) for adultery. He went in anger and slipped back to Itu'muta. Here he met a man called Jaumaja who lived at a place called Tagroa. Ravaka became the god of Itu'muta, Ravaka is still a title today.

Category:

Religion

Topic:

District gods (4)

Consultant:

Varomua

The god of Oinafa was Tagroa.

The gods of Malhaha were Sosiak, and Ravak.

Category:

Religion

Topic:

District gods (5)

Consultant:

Kitione

Ravaka was an 'aitu. He was the god of fishing. Only Oinafa and Itu'muta worshipped him.

Category:

Religion

Topic:

District gods (6)

Consultant:

Mora

Ravaka was an 'aitu. He was the god of fishing. He was worshipped by Oinafa and Itu'muta.

Category:

Religion

Topic:

District gods (7)

Consultant:

Marasia

Pau'ufu was a woman related to a chief of Itu'ti'u, who said before she died that the people of her district should call on her when announcing themselves outside the houses of the dead, which lay outside Itu'ti'u.

To Macgregor Index

To Tagroa