Samoa, A Hundred Years Ago And Long Before by George Turner
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page 16 of 222 (07%)
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Lu Moa, Lu Moa. Tangaloa was annoyed at the presumption of the lad, as if he wished to be above Moa the firstborn. He feigned an errand, and called the boy to come and scratch his back. The boy went to perform the operation, but on stretching out his hand was seized by his grandfather, and beaten with the handle of his fly-flapper. Lu made his escape, came running down to the earth, and named it SAMOA. 3. At one time the land was flooded by the sea, and everything died except some fowls and pigeons. The pigeons flew away, but the Moa, or _fowls_, remained and were made sacred by Lu, and not to be killed, and hence called the Sa Moa or _preserve fowls_ of Lu. 4. Tangaloa of the heavens and his son Lu built a canoe or vessel up in the heavens. They were aided by a carpenter called Manufili. When finished it was taken down and set on the Laueleele, or surface of the earth. There was no sea at that time. Lu had a wife called Gaogao o le tai, _expanse of sea_. She had a son who was also called Lu, and when he grew up the vessel was given to him. When she next brought forth it was a lot of all kinds of shell-fish. Lu said to his mother, "What is the use of having all these things lying there bare in the sun?" "Leave it with me to make a _lake_ for them," was her reply; and then she told him to go and get his vessel in order, and be ready to get into it when the sea was made. |
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