From Tongan Folklore
This story is about the origin of the lineages of Tongan chiefs (Haatui o Tongani).
Once upon a time there lived in Samoa a woman called Mulikivaito. At that time Sinilau lived in the sky. He liked Mulikivaito, so he came down and stole her and they both lived in the sky.
Mulikivaito first gave birth to a fat lizard (piliopo). The second time she gave birth to a boy, which the lizard ate. So they seized the lizard and threw him down to earth. Mulikivaito again gave birth to a child and it was a boy. She kept on bearing children until there were twelve of them.
Then Sinilau and Mulikivaito ordered their children to go down to earth and look after the lizard. They came down and cared for him. Sinilau assigned various lands to his sons. He told the oldest to be kind in Tonga; hence the origin of the Tui Tonga. Another one he sent to Samoa to be king there. Another one became king of Manuka in Samoa; another the king of Uea (Wallis Island); another the king of Futuna; another the king of Niue; and another the king of Rarotonga. They were all kings.
At that time it is said there was a big famine in Samoa. It is said that these men from the sky brought taro, bananas, and all sorts of food to the earth.
There lived a couple with two daughters, who also suffered from the famine. They learned that Mulikivaito’s place was the only one rich in food. The older girl then said she would go and marry the big lizard, so that they might have food to eat. Her parents consented to it. The older girl therefore went and told the mother of the lizard that she had come to “look after” him. When the lizard heard her voice he asked who was talking. Mulikivaito told him that it was a woman who had come to look after him. The lizard laughed and said, “All right.”
Late in the afternoon the lizard said they should go and bathe in the river and the girl agreed. When the time came they left. As they walked along the road the lizard ran up the front of the girl’s legs and then again he ran up her leg and up her back. As they proceeded on their way the girl became terrified. When they reached the river the lizard jumped into the water and swam around, while the girl ran off and told her parents about the strange behavior of the lizard and that nobody could stand it.
The younger girl then said she would go. She went and told the lizard’s mother that she had come to look after the lizard. The lizard of course heard her and asked who it was. His mother said that this woman had come because she wished to look after him. The lizard again laughed and said: “All right.”
As it was getting late in the afternoon, the lizard said they should go for a bath. The girl agreed and they went. As they were walking along the road, the lizard ran up the front of the girl’s leg and again up her leg on to her back, but the girl was not a bit frightened. When they reached the river the lizard jumped in and swam about and the girl calmly had her bath. When they were finished the girl dried the big lizard and then they returned. At night the lizard said they were not to sleep together. She was to sleep in one place while he slept in another. The lizard told her she was of no use to him, except that he use her as a pillow.
They slept that night and in the morning they were informed of a club fight performance (katoanga fetaaki) at another island. The lizard told his mother to make some garlands for his wife to take to the performance. They went and watched the performance. All of a sudden a new man rushed in and took part in it. There was not a person who could match this man. After it was over the man disappeared. On the return of the girl and Mulikivaito from the club fight, they told the lizard all about it. He said that it must have been a nice affair.
He again told them to make garlands for the girl to go again to the performance. They once more went and watched. On this day there again appeared in the midst of the club fighting the same champion who had participated on the preceding day. Again he was victorious. It is said that this man had his cheeks smeared with red. When the two women returned home the lizard asked how the performance came off. They again told him of the deeds of the strange man and of his taking part in the club fighting.
Then the girl noticed a smear of red on the big lizard’s cheek, for the skin of the lizard had parted and showed the red smear on the man’s cheek beneath. The girl exclaimed that wonders will never cease when a man intentionally disguises himself as a lizard. The lizard’s skin was then torn apart and a handsome man, Sinilau himself, appeared. Sinilau then returned to the sky, but Mulikivaito remained on earth with her children.
Source:
Tongan Myths and Tales, Edward Winslow Gifford, 1924
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