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Legends and Traditions of Easter Island

translated from Sebastian Englert's Leyendas
Hotu Matu'a's Native Land. A Cataclysm. Hau Maka's Vision. Hotu Matu'a's Native Land. A Cataclysm. Hau Maka's Vision.
Part II. told by Arturo Teao
He-oho te kuhane a te aro era, e-rarama-á i te maara mo tomo kiuta O'Hotu Matu'a. He-oho a te ara, he-tikea te kohe; he-rei hai va'e, he-hati te kohe, he-kî te kuhane o Hau Maka: "Ko te hatiga o te kohe a Hau Maka i Hiva". Hau Maka's spirit went to the other side, surveying the low parts where Hotu Matu'a would be able to disembark. On his way he came across a kohe plant11; he trampled on it, the kohe broke, and the spirit of Hau Maka said: "The Breaking the Kohe of Hau Maka (who lives) in Hiva."
He-oho, he-tu'u ki Poike, he-vari ki te aro nei; he-oho-mai a te aro nei, he-tu'u ki Taharoa. He-kî te kuhane o Hau Maka: "I-ana nei te maara te Ariki". He went on, he reached Poike and went for a walk to this side; passing here, he reached Taharoa. The spirit of Hau Maka said: "Here is a landing spot for the King."
He-oho-mai, he-tu'u ki Haga Hoonu; he-tikea te one omu'a o te haga, he-kî hakaou: "I-ana nei te maara o te Ariki, Ko Hotu Matu'a". He went on and arrived at Hanga Hoonu 12; he saw the sand opposite the bay and he said again: "Here is a landing spot for the King, Hotu Matu'a."
He-oho-mai, he-tu'u ki Ovahe, he-tikea te one, one uraúra, he-vari-mai ki Anakena, he-tikea te one, he-kî Hau Maka: I-ana nei te maara nuinui, te haga nuinui, mo tomo o te Ariki O'Hotu Matu'a". He went on, arrived at Ovahe13, saw the sand, coloured sand; he took a walk to Anakena, saw the sand and said: "Here is the very landing spot, large, the large bay for the King Hotu Matu'a to disembark."
He-garo ki Hiva, he-veriveri, he-ara, he-á, he-koa. He (the spirit of Hotu Matua) went to Hiva, with a start he woke up, exclaimed "ah!" and was pleased.
He-û'i-mai te tagata, te igoa Ko Ira, ki a Hau Maka: "Pehé ko e-á-ena?". A man called Ira asked Hau Maka: ""Why were you saying ah!?"
He-kî Hau Maka: "E-ara-nó-ana okoe?" Hau Maka said: "Were you awake?"
[the original pascuan is missing] Ira said: "I was awake all along."
He-kî-mai A'Ira: "He-aha koe, e-á-ena?". Ira asked: "What happened, for you to say ah!?"
He-kî Hau Maka: "He kaiga iroto i te raá, iruga! Ka-oho korua, ka-û'i i te kaiga mo noho o te Ariki O'Hotu Matu'a! "The island towards the sun, above!14. Go, see the island where King Hotu Matu'a will go and live!"

The End


Note 11. A plant of the Filicinea genus (a fern).

Note 12. Hanga Hoonu, the native name for La Pérouse Bay.

Note 13. Ovahe, a beach near Anakena beach.

Note 14. "The island towards the sun, above" seems to mean that, seen from Hiva, it was towards the rising sun.


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