To Macgregor Index

To Song of Raho

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

Songs

Category:

Music

Topic:

Songs(1)

Consultant:

Undisclosed

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

The following song is the corrected form written in the notes of Dr. MacDonald's translation [in Transactions of the Fiji Society] of a song given by M. de Blosseville (see also Lesson) to de Rieugis:

Sialeva, Sialeva ou reu fu lalae
Ou lelea ae ane se teii?
Naea se papau hapa teii?
Sialeva sek sek se tae ko lae-lae
Sialeva sek sek se tae ko laelae
 
Sialeva, Sialeva, with erect and outspreading tail,
Where have you hidden your young ones?
Under which wing have you hidden them?
Sialeva that wanders about like a sea-urchin.

The sialeva is a somewhat rare bird occasionally seen on coconut trees here. The song is usually sung at wrestling matches.

Category:

Music

Topic:

Songs(2)

Consultant:

Isimeli

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Song and story

Sinetevao ma Tuisavara gou fea ma se itara
Koaki se lagi tei lamlama vilisio ka leta sakasaka
gou fea ma se itara koaki se laga koua puha
futim hafu mala hap rua ripi ma potopoto ta
gou fea ma se itara
Koaki se pa toa te Niua lagi hai sagahulu ma lagi rua
gou fea ma se itara
Rata ia se Tokainiua
gou fea ma se itara
Sinatevao ma Tuisavara
gou fea ma se itara

Category:

Music

Topic:

Songs(3)

Consultant:

?? Malhaha

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Rogroga

Kau momoe ma te i lag
Ne faki uhe ne fakapare
Kau poate aua re vehea
Lagi kelekele mousita reh
Moeatikitiki vehea he ta'at
Oraga hoa' siu lag
Lagi kelkele mausite so
Moeatikitiki vehea ta pot
Auraga hoa sia laho

Category:

Music

Topic:

Songs(4)

Consultant:

?? Malhaha

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Peni

Sasi tuku la fue mano'
Hiohio va e tomato
Tui anaki valu
Piki mea salu
Hiohio va e tomato
Fafa ia valu
Piki fafao
Hiohio va e tomato
Le ese ipu
Ta laga teni soko
Hiohio va e tomato
E ko peni hoi ma raaki
Hiohio va e tomato (e to ma to?).

Category:

Music

Topic:

Songs(5)

Consultant:

?? Malhaha

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Song of Riroa in Malhaha

Oto ri gou rerania
Penapena ara mo naki
La'o se vaia hanua ne as
Ona pou ma hoa sio e lagi
Foua leliki ma foua favi.
Furi mea la vekoa tarutu
Afe e lopu (lapu?) afe e ieluag (veluag?)
Apiheta ma ona kasa luluak
Hatahata ka tuki se on faua
Tafitia e sunu ona tonu
Sasaga la tuturu sokoa
Laga pora ma on kasa ka toa
Vahi ia kau ru pagopagoa
Ma leum la foia tu poara
Kura ma si ega rogo me e mua ho'i ma hoag
La hahua hata (huta?) e la leva ne taveki
Te unu la futia ne Toga
La manu ri ta riroa
Oto Hpure pure mima Mo manu e moromoro te pokia
Tapa ko si atu taetae
Filosia e timi ta si'se'
Koia ia toesagone.
Rere hafu te tuira.

Category:

Music

Topic:

Songs(6)

Consultant:

Varomua

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Rotuman Foru (song with story)

Sinatevao ma Tui Savara
Kana se' kanasute muapal
Gou fea ma se itara
Gou fea ma se itara
La la'o ka roa ia sala
Fu' siu la i ta faeag
Furisema ma le taga
Gou fea ma si'i itarag
Gou fea ma si'i tarag
Kauaki se lagi lamalama
Vilisio siu ka le'et saksak
Gou fea ma si'i tarag
Gou fea ma si'i tarag
Kauaki se upen atua
Puak oi oi ta mata oa
Gou fea ma si'i tarag
Gou fea ma si'i tarag
Koaki se laga koua puha
Futim haf mal hap rue
Ka ripi ma potopoto ta en
Gou fea ma si'i tarag
Gou fea ma si'i tarag
Koaki se to'a te Niua
Lagi saghul ma lagi rua
Ia takaia toa ke Niua
Gou fea ma si'i tarag?
Gou fea ma si'i tarag
Lagi ta hoihoi ma foiaki
vilisio siu ferii toinaki
Gou fea ma si'i tarag
Gou fea ma si'i tarag

 

Savara is said to be a village in Samoa
muapal = sunrise in the east

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