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

Music: Sailing Songs

Category:

Music

Topic:

Sailing songs (1)

Consultant:

Undisclosed

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

I. Song of a chief leaving the Island, from Oinafa

Tupu'a sunaita 'on mal

Light of the stars shining

Agto se rer ufag

Straight to the sandy beach

Gagaj ruerue la' lana

The chief (makes) ready to leave

Kava fonase hat 'ai marat

Kava and the pandanus fruit (is served to him)

Fonu is the food always eaten after kava, which is served to a chief when he is leaving.) Tupu'a = sun-stars

Category:

Music

Topic:

Sailing songs (2)

Consultant:

Undisclosed

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

II. Bird Song, from Oinafa

Kel e mosemose ne manumanu

Look at the bird sleeping (hands held up)

Aura se furia lagi holi kalu

Don't turn to see the wind going around (keep sleeping)

Re la se noanoaia se aura

Do not make it so that it will be hard for you

Vaka ta fuei ma kale karau

The canoe leaves and will not return for a long time.

The canoe will not be back for a long time so that the birds can sleep without fearing it

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