108 JOHN FKASER. 



broke up the stem and threw the pieces about him. A man of the place, 

 whose name was Pava, planted them, and thence the kava plant subse- 

 quently spread throughout Samoa. This happened after the time when 

 the ao, the fale'ula, and the vaitina were brought down from heaven by 

 Tangaloa-a-Ui." 



IX. — Sa'umani and Pava — A Solo. 



How the Kava plant came down from the heavens. 

 o 



1 . You two will go a-fishing ; 



2. With your hands strike the water, making a hollow sound. 



3. They got only one fish, 



4. A manini, from the salt sea. 



5. Tangaloa lifts it up and tears off the skin ; 



6. Tangaloa lifts it up and throws it aside ; 



7. [For] he desired some kava to drink with his cold food. 



8. "Now then, O Telemu and Malifai, [he says], 



9. You two will run up to the heavens ; 



10. There the kava grows hidden away [in a shady covert]; 



11. You will pull it up with its stem ; [the ground; 



12. You will break off [the part to be used] and beat it [clean] on 



13. You two will peel off the bark ; 



1 4. You will tear off the skin with your teeth until there is enough." 



15. Tangaloa carefully examined the kava, 



16. For the kava was pulled up with its woody stem. 



17. Where does that kava [now] grow? 



18. It grows in Saua and Malae-'Ava ; 



19. Towards the sea is Saua-e-'Ava ; 



20. Landward is Malae-'Ava ; 



21. These are the spots on which the plant came down. 



22. Tangaloa longed for some fresh water, [the kava cup. 



23. For they had brought down the bowl and the strainer and 



24. Heavy rain came down ; 



25. Rain, rain at night : 



26. It rained everywhere ; 



27. Oh, it was wonderful : 



