SOME FOLK-SONGS AND MYTHS FROM SAMOA. HI 



XI.— '0 le Ya o le 'Ava— A Solo. 

 The Contention about the Kava '; the Spread of the Kava plant. 



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1. Saua is a land to the east ; 



2. [Thence] bring the kava [plant] and portion it out 



3. In our one group of Samoa ; 



4. That [also] is the kava [plant] of Fiji and Tonga ; 



5. And it reached even to Borabora. [about. 



6. Let the kava plant get up early in the morning and sail all 



7. O Savai'i and Salafai, 



8. Don't you contend with me [about it, says Saua], 



9. For we know whence it came. 



10. [Thou did'st buy it from us] ; thy price was brought ; 



11. It was brought but not enough ; 



12. Thereupon thy repentance grew up, 



13. And [then a sufficient] price was brought — 



14. The brood mother hen was brought. 



15. Then the kava [plant] was given [thee by us]; 



16. It was planted inland ; 



17. It grew, it was prolific ; 



18. It spread in Fale-A'ana ; 



19. The kava spread to Tua-masanga ; 



20. And also to the ruling lands there. 



21. O chiefs, Aui-matangi, 



22. Do you consider this : 



23. Towards the east is Fale'ula ; 



24. There is the kava in its place of growth. 



25. Although there is causeless contention [about it], 



26. Yet Saua is well known 



27. That the kavas grew there of old. 



28. Come here, Fue and Fanga, — 



29. You two whose child was punished — 



30. There is the kava which is to be drunk. 



-31. Wake up the boys [to go] to the shore [a-fishing]. 

 •32. They started up ; it was evening. 



