Pasefika Na Noda Vanua.
A look at Fijian traditional Legends surrounding the island of Vatulele.
Introduced by presenter Bulou Amalani Ligalevu Legge on the fortnightly programme with its focus on this episode about the legend of the island Vatulele. This item is presented in Fijian with English subtitles.
There are 3 islets near Vatulele named Vatu Levu, Vatu Lailai and Vatu Savu surrounded by a reef.
There are several meanings behind the island’s name. One is linked to the well known legend of Vatulele where a prince from the mainland travelled to Vatulele to woo its princess named Yalewa ni Cagi Bula (Maiden of the Fair Wind) with a gift of cooked prawns. The other meaning is when the name is separated, vatu meaning rock and lele is an old Fijian word for slanting, therefore slanting rock.
There are petroglyphs (rock paintings) on the cliffs of Vatulele called Bai ni Vualiku.
An estimated route of Pacific settlers who moved along the Eastern Pacific is shown on a map.
Lapita pottery sites in Fiji are Natunuku in Ba, Moturiki in the Lomaiviti group and the Sigatoka sandhills. It is also believed that the settlers stayed briefly at Vatulele and Beqa before sailing eastwards.
The lawedua (white-tailed tropicbird) is viewed as a totem bird of ‘No-i-Narewa’ the traditional keepers of the famed red prawns, whose appearance is considered a good omen and shows the blessing of the ‘vanua’ for people to enter.
Watisoni Vadra, the Bete ni Ura Buta e Vatulele (traditional priest) is the guide around Vatulele.
Mataiqara (first entrance) is the opening path marking the approach to the red prawn pool. The significance of Mataiqara is explained as the route of the departed souls which end at the sandy point called Yalewarua (Two Maidens).
The petroglyph area is called Dainaba where early Polynesians had stopped briefly 3000 years ago, their petrogylphs are similar to those found in Tonga and Hawai’i
The priest guides them to Yalewa ni Cagi Bula and a glade near the prawn pool which is ‘tawa’(occupied by spirits). In areas where it is ‘tawa’ silence is observed as it is a Fijian custom.
A cavern in the cliffs is the ‘Qara ni ga ni Lau’(cave of the falcons) where it was believed the ga ni lau, a fabled bird once lived. The bird then left and settled in Yasawa at Sawa I Lau where it eventually died.
Yalewa ni Cagi Bula was a beautiful princess who had admirers from around the country trying to wed her. A particular suitor from Votualailai travelled on rocks to win her over, taking a parcel of cooked prawns as his gift to her. When he met her he displayed the present to her and expressed his wish to marry her, which she rejected. She took the cooked prawns and threw it away, landing in a pool and coming back to life.
The lighthouse of Vatulele was built in 1953 and is seven stories high. Situated at the top Bai ni Vualiku it gives commanding views of the reef and island.
The trees that grow in Vatulele, such as the vesi and ironwood (Instia bijuga) where anvils are created for the beating out of masi or barkcloth.
A large gap between the two chunks of reefs is known as Vale Iloilo (Glass House). This is where it is believed the souls of the departed from Vatulele launch out into Burotukula, the World of the Dead.
Waikoula Kei Tavua, a band from Tavua led by Waisele Vuniwaqa perform two sigidrigi (Fijian music genre that incorporates harmonies, guitars and ukeleles), songs and the meke.