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Rotuman Custom as told to Gordon Macgregor in 1932
from notes archived at Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawai'i

Hanitemaus

Category:

Legends

Topic:

Hanitemaus(1)

Consultant:

Katalina

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Hanitemaus lived on Solhofu and had a bath on Haua off Oinafa. The people of this district worshipped her and called upon her to answer questions. There was a family in Oinafa who would meet on the top of a hill or in a house where they would beat a drum and call for her. There was a tu'ura who spoke her words. When they called her they sang this song:

Hanitemaus, hao to me la mak, kila ki la, ki la ki le
"Hanitemaus, hao to me la fag, kila ki la, ki la ki le.

Kava was given to the tu'ura and when the people thought that she was nearing and ready to take possession of the tu'ura, they began to dance about and clap themselves, and sing again:

Kukuloua aalem
Ke tata, ke haume
Hie loou mae ki la ki la ki la ki le.

Katalina described this first as taking place on a hill behind Lopta, and later when questioned about Ri fak'atua, she said Hanetemaus had one.

 

 

 

tu'ura = a medium who hosts an 'atua

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Ri fak'atua = spirit house

Category:

Legends

Topic:

Hanitemaus(2)

Consultant:

Faimanu

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

When Raho and Tokainiua were having a dispute a woman from the bush (who is always referred to by that description) came down to crack some sea snails with a large boulder (about 3' in diameter). But as she was nearing the sea in Haga, dawn broke and the woman, fearing she might be seen by the people of Haga, threw the rock towards the well Voitentene where it can be seen today and fled to the bush. The rock is called Fufre'e.

See Raho legend

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