ETHNOLOGICAL NOTES OF TOKELAU, ETC., ISLANDERS. 611 
At Peru I got an interesting legend which the Samoan who gave 
it to me recognised as the legend of “ Tangaloa Su’e-fanua.”* Briefly 
stated the legend thus runs : — 
A couple reached Peru from Samoa named Tiitii and Talanga. 
Soon after arrival in Peru, Talanga bore a daughter named Yaituutuu, 
who became the wife of Tang a’ i from heaven. Their son was Talo, 
who took for wife Tepao, from whom came Aitu-o-le-vao (spirit of the 
bush), whose wife, Lafoaiin'a, bore a daughter named Tamalii. This 
girl quarrelled with her mother, and, having constructed a float of 
cocoanuts, went to the island of Tarawa. She there became the wife 
of the King of Tarawa, “ Nui-o-Tarawa.” Their son, Launiu, one day 
asked his mother whence she came, to which, she replied, “ From 
Peru.” Whereupon the son built a canoe, known in tradition by the 
name of “The Iatolima,” from the Jive bars connecting the outrigger 
with the body of the canoe. In this Launiu alone ventured south- 
ward in search of his mother’s old home, taking with him his pet fowl, 
or fighting bird. On his voyage he encountered the canoe of Tangaloa, 
who had sailed with his daughter and a retinue from Samoa. 
Tangaloa’s daughter, whose name was Tavaie, had also with her a 
favourite Moa y “The Aloimanusa.” After greetings and the usual 
questions as to their lauds and destination, they were about to 
separate when Launiu’ s cock began to crow. On this Tangaloa 
suggested a cockfight on the deck of the canoe. This took place, and 
the Samoan bird was victorious. Launiu immediately conceived the 
wish to become possessor of the Aloimanusa. Having preferred his 
request, Tavaie had a good look at the son of the King of Tarawa, 
and, finding that he was very good-looking, decided not only to bestow 
her bird but her own hand to Launiu. She therefore suggested that 
her father, Tangaloa, should return to Samoa, whilst she accompanied 
Launiu. The destination of the latter was determined by the flight 
of the bird, who took the couple to Tapitauea, where the various 
names bear testimony to the story. 
At Tamana and at Peru amongst the names of gods bearing Gilbert 
Island names was one Nareau. A legend of this mythical hero is 
preserved at Peru. It is peculiarly rich in local allusions, and 
confirms the universal tradition of the frequent voyages of the 
Samoans to these islands and to Tarawa, north of the equator. Nareau 
is announced in the introductory portion of the legend as the Creator 
of the heaven and the earth ; and that he performed this enormous task 
whilst still in his Samoan home with his daughter Kobine. This 
daughter was invisible, residing in the caverns beneath the ocean. 
Before Nareau left Samoa he lived to see his descendants to the 
seventeenth generation. He went to Tarawa, and there his descendants 
numbered seventy-seven generations before his return to Samoa under 
the name he had acquired in Tarawa of “ Tautebu.” 
On Nikunau and on Peru there are in each settlement enormous 
and very unique structures known as council-houses. The house at 
Nuka, the principal settlement on Peru, was formerly called Samoa, 
and was originally built with timber (Te leal te biti) called ironwood, 
which is traditionally said to have come from Samoa. The legend 
describing the building of this house ascribes miraculous properties to 
* “Tangaloa,” discoverer or searcher cf lands. 
