A Grammar and Dictionary of the Samoan Language, with English and Samoan vocabulary
III. The Fagono
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III. The Fagono
is partly narrative, partly sung by one person;—
1st. ‘O le Fagono. ‘A ‘o Tafitofau la lenei ma Ogafau;
Aue! ‘a ‘o fanau la la tama, ona fanau lea ‘o Tui. Toe fanau ‘o Tui; toe fanau ‘o Tui; toe fanau ‘o Tui; toe fanau ‘o Tui; toe fanau ‘o Tui; toe fanau ‘o Tui; toe fanau ‘o Tui; toe fanau ‘o Tui; toe fanau ‘o Tui; ona fanau lea ‘o Sina. Upu o Fagono; pe moni?
‘Ua leai lava le au uso1 ma lo latou tuafafine; ‘ua so‘ona matutua,
1 I.e., There was none like them in beauty.
– 42 –
Ona fai atu‘lea lo latou tuafafine, “Tui e, ma Tui ma Tui ma Tui, ‘o lenei ‘ua tatou matutua; pe ni a ‘o tatou faiva a fai nei? E lelei ina ia tatou ta ti‘a.” Ona usita‘i lea i ai ‘o le nu‘u; ona latou ta tìa lea. Ta le ti‘u a Sina; mua i tai. Ta le ti‘a a Sina; mua i uta. Toe ta le ti‘a a Sina; mua i tai. ‘Ua leai lava le fafine—‘ua so‘ona lalelei; ‘ua u mai mata, ‘ua ni aiga fa‘alala; u mai le tua, ‘ua ‘o‘o le malama i Sàua.1
Ona vaaia lea e Sina ‘o le gogo sina, ‘ua tipatipa mai tai. Ona fa‘apea lea ‘o Sina;
“Oi la‘u tane! ‘o le gogo sina.
‘Ou te manamea i ana tipa.”
Ona tauvala‘au lea ‘o Sina, “Tui e, ma Tui ma Tui!” Ona sau ai lea ‘o Tuiletafu‘e, ‘o le sauali‘i; ona fefe ai lea ‘o Sina. Ua sau le aitu: ona moe lea i vae o Sina.
Ona o mai lea le au uso tuagane o Sina, ma lana tane, ‘o le gogo sina; ona tepa atu lea ‘ua i ai le aitu ia Sina, ona tagi lea.
‘O Fagono a tagi; ‘a ‘o tagi le tamaloa:—
“Soufuna Sina, soufuna Sina,
Le tama fafine, le feagaiga,
Lota tuafatine, na ‘e tagi i lau tane, ‘o le gogo sina.
E te manamea i ana tipa.
Ifo vanu, a‘e vanu, au manu na.
‘A e ta alu ita, ne‘i ta pau; ta lilia e.”
“Sole Tui, sau i fale;
Tui e, sau i fale, i ta gagase.
Na‘u valaau, ‘o Tui ma Tui!
Oe mai ai le tasi Tui, ‘o Tuiletafu‘e; le moe nei,
Le tofa i o‘u vae nei
Tui e, sau i fale nei.”
Ona tagi lea ‘o Sina;
“Sole Tui e, sau i fale;
Sau i fale, i ta gagase.
Na‘u valaau, o Tui ma Tui!
Oe mai ai le tasi Tui, Tuiletafu‘e; le moe nei.
Tui e, sau i fale nei.”
1 A phrase meaning beautiful.
– 43 –
“Soufuna Sina, le tamafafine,
Lota tuafafine, le feagaiga,
Na ‘e tagi i lau tane, ‘o le gogo sina;
E te manamea i ana tipa.
Ifo vanu, a‘e vanu, au manu na.
‘A e alu ita nei; ta pau; ta lilia e.”
2d. The Vi‘i, the most common of all, is used in praise of chiefs. The first half of each verse is sung by some three or four, and then the latter half is taken up in full chorus. It is accompanied with beating on a mat rolled up, and dancing.
‘O le Vi‘i o Letiutauga
Fa‘atali atu e; ‘a ‘o tiu i le manu.
Fa‘atali atu e, Tagipo; ‘a ‘o tiu i le manu.
‘Ua ligoligo le ulufanua; ‘a ‘ua tau matagi.
A sa matou taumatea, pe ni sasa o papalagi?
Oi, lau tama e! sa f aolioli nei lava i le nu‘u o manu o le tau.
Oi, le ula! e moni o le fuai mamao se ali‘i uei, ‘ua gutu i aitu fa‘alevao.
Letiutauga, ina folau; po ‘o lelei lava le tagata o le atu to‘elau.
‘A e le ‘ole lea; ina gase moe, ‘o le faiva o tama tane ‘o tau.
3d. The Lagisolo, or funeral dirge, is in form much like the preceding. It is sung slowly, without dancing, in honour of a deceased chief. One of considerable length, in honour of Tato, of Safune, commences—
‘O le li‘a mai; aue, li‘a mai, &c.1
4th. The Vila, the above, accompanied by clapping of hands, but no dancing. It has also a commencement of its own; thus, and a chorus—
‘Ua ta‘afili i mauga lega, ‘ua lupe.
Lupe, lupe ulu iva.
‘O le li‘a mai, aue li‘a mai!
Lupe, lupe ulu iva, &c.
5th. The Talalo is sung slowly, with motion of the hands, and beating the mat. The following is a
– 44 –
Talalo i Matautu
‘Ua tutunoa, tutunoa,
Au le foa, au le foa,
Tutunoa lenei aso vale.
E le iloa se ata sopovale lo‘ia e.
Nu‘u a ‘uma si ata sa tane i le utu tau,
Se va‘a Tufulele, ma nai lagaali o Masefau.
‘Ua fa‘ae‘e ma mu ‘atoa le tuavao.
Afu maile fai matatao, Mataia e.
Toli mai sea ‘ula e, tau mamao, a galo e.
6th. The Fiti is quite new to Samoans, having been introduced from Fiji. It is accompanied with beating the mat, and motion of the hands.1
7th. The Fatu is sung in honour of a deceased chief, not danced to, nor even used at a dance; more properly in this respect a funeral dirge than the Lagisolo.
Imoaaimanu e i logologo ‘ua‘u sau.
Na‘u su‘ilia mai se pupu e logona i vao.
Soufuna faufau, &c.2
8th. The Solo in praise of chief's lands and laumua; sung by one.
Na‘u tipa ifo, tipa ifo i niu-lega.3
Fa‘ataulia i tafetafe lou fia inu le‘a.4
Fai atu i fale na, le galu teine ma le galu taulele‘a.
Se‘i latou maia ai se ‘ava ‘o i fale na;
Se‘i taumafa ane ali‘i, a lailoa i le tuneva.
A tufa lava, ia o‘u mua, ‘o a‘u ‘o Letu‘uga.
‘Ou te fa‘anau ala i Piu;
Seu ai lota va‘a i fanua;
‘Ou futia se i‘a se lautua;
Fa‘ataatia i le taumua.
9th. The Muli‘au (including the Mualeva) is like the Vi‘i, struck up by two or more, and answered in full chorus, accompanied by the beating of an instrument called the fa‘aali‘i5
O le Mualeva
Aue mauga! mauga o Savai‘l,
E tu‘u feta‘i.
E tiga mauga, mauga o Savai‘i,
E tu‘u feta‘i.
E fetaitai ma fale,
Ma mauga loa ma Vaete,
Ma utu a lau fau.
Aue mauga, &c.
3 A bathing-place at Safa‘i.
4 A harbour.
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Se pule a le a,
Ma maluatea,
Ma mulimauga o Olomea,
Ma le vao na o masa tuai.
Lopa mai i le Nuanua,
Ma le Afi‘a i mulimauga.
Aue mauga, &c.
‘O le lagisolo ia Tato
‘O le li‘a mai, ‘aue li‘a mai;
Tolila‘au e Tolila.1
‘A ‘o ai le tala i fafo?
‘Ua le migao, ‘ua tala po;
Se‘ia ao e fa‘ataio,
E alaga, ‘ua l[gap — reason: unclear]fo le malo;
‘Ua solofa le lagi, ‘ua fao.
‘A matou fa amavae ai,
Saivaiaso,1 ma Tu‘uiletai,1
Lu‘ulaufasa1 ma Tagatanu‘u.1
‘O i maua na ‘ua o mai,
Na ma ‘Olo‘apu2 mai Vaiafai;3
Na ma sailia Faufiliifetai,4
Ai se mea o saosaofa‘i ai.
‘O Sinasegi1 ma Sinava‘ava‘ai,1
Ai se aloia lua ta‘ua mai,
Sau i lona lumafale mavae.
Na ma ‘Olo‘apu mai Fale‘afa;
‘O le a maliu ifo sa Tuala.
‘A o‘o ito le fulugava‘a.
Talofa i nai tulafale,
‘A tau ina tatou fetaia‘i,
Ai lau teva nei, e le a‘e.
‘I a futu, ‘ua so‘o le atu sasa‘e,
‘O sa‘ili i le tafatafa ‘i lagi.
Se a ‘ea lenci? ‘ua ta te‘i,
Segia mai mauli, ‘ua ta fefe !
Ta ‘ino‘ino i malaga au‘e‘e;
Sa fai atu lava ‘o le va‘a tele,
Fai la, a tatou gae‘e;
Ia te lavatia tai tetele.
Ia te tino e faasau e Meto;6
E te alo e mau lava i le solo.
Se fa‘amomo i loto, se tu‘u faleupolu.
Fa‘afono atu lo tatou na motu,
Si‘osi‘omia le va‘a la ono.
Filoilupo7 ma Lemaluosamoa,1
Avatu i laua e fai ma fa aoso.
I maliu atu, ‘a ‘ua ma i le motu,
1 A woman's name.
2 The name of the ambassador of Safune.
3 The Iva drinking-water.
4 Chief's brother.
6 A reference to a fagono.
7 A woman's name.
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Na ma sa‘ilia Naumatiutuloa,1
Pe maua i le vavaloloa?
Se gutupoto ia te talasaloa,
O ali‘i ‘ua i‘ina ‘atoa.
Sema e, ‘o ai ‘ea e pisa?
Pe se son le va i le faga?
Pe ni fa‘aali‘i ‘ua tata?
Ofo mai se tautai pagota.
Na ‘o Leasiono,2 ma Uta,
Lesiene,3 ma Palepalegaoa,3
Si‘i ifo le va‘a e nofoafa,
‘A e to‘alima i Agalela.4
E ifo a‘u ma tagi, ‘a ‘ua lupea sina tu‘itu‘i.
Le Atua e, to mai sau pule,
Fo‘isa‘iina mai Fuatafuti;5
S[gap — reason: unclear]‘ia to ane se matai tuli.
Fo‘isa‘iina mai i Fuailalama5
Ia Safune, ‘o taua o le pala;
Ni nai nu‘u na mai La‘afaga;6
Na ‘o Su‘esu‘e7 lea ma Taga.7
Avatu i laua e fai ma papa
Ia Vae‘au,7 e fai mou va‘a;
Tofoilevao7 e fai ma malama.
Alu atu Manu e ta‘ai tapa‘a;
Lo outou ili, ‘o le sau o Lava‘a;
‘A e matafi ane ao valevale,
Ai le fualupe e tau tasi.
Talofa i le fu‘a, nei tauvale,
Ne‘i le ‘auga le fao-‘ato8
Ape ane, ‘a ni mea fa‘amalama
Avatu le tuaefu9 e togisala
‘A e tautua na Lefuaiva‘a.10
‘O le fiti ia Matautu
1.
Lemaile11 ma Lesuni‘ula e,11
A avatu ‘upu, tetee mai.12
Ne‘i tu‘u i le ‘upu fa‘aoso13
A ‘au na i tafeaga,14
Le fia eva gatasi lava15
Sea‘ula e, a toli e16
Susu‘i ma fa‘atali i nai Lomea e17
1 Tato.
2 Women.
3 Women's names.
3 Women's names.
4 Name of Moana a tulafale.
5 Names of Tato.
5 Names of Tato.
6 Name of a place.
7 People's names.
8 In the war the children of Safune were carried to the fort in baskets.
9 The young meu of the place compared to pigeons.
10 Tato's name.
11 Names of Manono. The people of that island were angry with Matautu.
12 Don't receive the tales which you hear.
13 Do not believe the aggravating words.
14 Of the troops of the conquered party.
15 Who wish to be on an equal footing.
16 When you pluck the fruit of the séa.
* An emblematic name of Matautu.
– 47 –
2.
Fai pea si a latou mane,
A lena vao tagata vale
I le lupe1 nei ‘ua tufale.
Olotu i Taoa valevale.
A ‘ou pefeaina ca?
Tau ina ia e fa‘a pea,
E ‘auga i ai Lelomea.
Sea ‘ula, &c.
3.
Tu mai, ina a tatou o,
Ma Letaituli2 e pula po.
Se‘i a‘o ni aga ia fofo,
Ma lota mata‘u i le malo,
Ne‘i fa‘avovo t[gap — reason: unclear]o.
Sea‘ula e, &c.
4.
Lemaile, Lemaile, fa‘amolemole;
Ne‘i mao i le3 ivi o le i‘a.
Fo‘i mai e s[gap — reason: unclear]u i Masina.4.
Se‘i tali le Va‘afaifaiva,5
‘O lo‘o ‘ua tali tula‘i na;
Mona[gap — reason: unclear]asa o uila.
‘O taeao e tau paipa.
Sea‘ula e, &c.
O le fatu ia Suluga
Imoaaimanu6 e, i logologo ‘ua a‘u sau.
Na a‘u sailia mai Sepupuelogonaivao.7
Soufuna Faufauiatane8 ma Le‘aunofoitalau,9
Na a‘u sailia mai Sepupuelogonaivao.
Aue Fa‘atiu e, ‘ua vagana, ‘ua a‘u le iloa.
Na a‘u sailia mai Sepupuelogonaivao.
‘Ua muamua mai tala leaga, ‘ua a‘u fa‘atuama‘oa;
Ni tala mai o le so‘o o Tigilau;10
‘Ua ‘atoa lava lou aso tau.
A palui liutua ta‘i‘au;
Fa‘amau fao tulimuli‘au.
1 A reference to Suisala, a chief of Matautu.
2 The name of a young chief.
3 A reference to a chief called Faapoaifoto.
4 The name of a mountain.
5 A reference to the chief Va‘afagota.
6 The name of a traditionary stone at Falelatai here put to signify the people of the place.
7 One of Suluga's names.
8 A woman who was changed to a stone.
9 The name of a dead chief.
10 Suluga compared to Tigilau.
– 48 –
A‘e liuliu a le togapulau;
Si ‘ou lalelei ‘ua naunau.
‘A ‘o a‘u lena sina fafine mai Savavau;1
Tiliaui2 lea, e fai ma nofoatau,
I se e mapu i ai Lenaunau.3
‘Ou te talita i ou tafatafa,
Ma ‘ou sui lou masei‘au.
‘Oifea ‘ea tupua o le fanua?
Soufuna e, Uluselevalevale,4
Le paepae lei i soloi ane,
Le fanua lea e tu‘ulafoa‘i.
O mai ia, ina lua o ia Puana5 ma Tala‘i.5
Se‘i lua silitonua mai ai
Faunana6 ma Alomaugana‘i.7
‘Ua ma o mai, e le i ai;
Saili atu i le alasea‘e.
Nainai soania le fetuao,
‘O Tapuitea8 lo‘o ‘ua sopolagi.
Aue Li‘agogo9 i le talafatai, ‘ofea Letaiaua?10
Sulugaiu‘amea lauama,10
Na matatau ma Lefagugata.11
‘a latou to‘ese‘ese ma Lelamatantasiilepa12
Ia Si‘ilautoieli‘aga-‘aeufi‘atoaletuapapa.13
Toimoanaletuliotoga.13
Le usoilei ‘ua tagi mai ala
Fagumau ia o Leutuu‘amea,14
Ma Samoa ‘ua fa‘atautala.
‘O le Muli‘au ia Tu‘u
1.
E, Tu‘u e ‘ua igo i lana sala e;
E, ‘aua le f[gap — reason: unclear]tulia, faitalia lona loto e.
Aue sole Tu‘u, ‘o fea lou fanua?
Aue Tutuila e, o lota nu‘u e mamao.
Fagali‘i ma Selea le fanua,
Olao, ma Tula, ma Onenoa,
‘O fanua o Tu‘u e ‘atoa.
To lau sala, ‘a ‘ua iloa.
Tu‘u e, ‘ua igo i lana sala;
E, ‘aua le fetulia, faitalia lona loto e.
2.
Aue sole Tu‘u e, ‘oifea ou fanua?
Fagalele, ma le tolo i Puava,
1 The name of land belonging to Tigilau.
2 A woman's name.
3 One of Suluga's names.
4 A woman changed into one of these tupua.
5 Names of two tupua at Amoa.
6 A chief of Satapuala.
7 An Amoa chief.
8 The name of a star.
9 A chief of Falelatai.
10 Names of Suluga.
11 Va‘afusu, chief of Falelatai.
12 Tui‘a‘ana.
13 Suluga.
14 Three handsome brothers.
– 49 –
Initu, ma Inifa‘atafa,
‘O fanua o Tu‘uleama‘aga;
Nofo ai, aua ‘ua sala.
Tu‘u e, ‘ua igo i lana sala, etc.
3.
Aue sole Tu‘u, ‘ofea ou fanua?
Se Olomio mai le Lupeuluiva,1
‘O i Va‘agauta,2 ‘o i Va‘agatai.2
‘O Letui3 le nu‘u o sauali‘i;
‘A ‘o Nu‘u3 le malae o ali‘i.
‘O i Vaifoa4 i malae Filogia.5
E vavae le toga le Pu‘a‘ivine;6
‘A galu, fatia Si‘unau.7
Tu‘u e, ‘ua igo, etc.
4.
Aue Galegalea‘e8 i Olofetu‘u.8
I Lealailenau8 ma Tafa‘itoa.8
Mamafiologologo,9 ma Ausoloiago,9
Ma Itita‘oto,9 ma Tagi,9 ma Aloalo;9
E sa‘afi Tu‘u i ona fanua.
Lau sala e fa‘apua fua.
E alaala ai Moaaletiale10 se manaia.
Ni ‘ava lelei ia atia mai;
Lafo i fafo, ia laina;
Au mai i fale, i maia;
Utufia ni taufa e sui a‘i;
La inu, ma nofonofo vale.
Le sala a Tu‘u ‘ua le a‘e.
Tu‘u e, ‘ua igo, etc.
5.
‘O le Pitofau11 o Tu‘u sa lavalava mai,
Ma Leuooutumoso12 na la momoe ai;
Fai ai ana mavaega.
‘A se tamafafine, pule Fale‘afa;
‘A se ali‘i avane lona suafa.
‘A e liliu e ia ia Li‘ava‘a.13
Aua sa fa‘amanamana.
Tu‘u e, ‘ua igo i lana sala.
E, ‘aua le fetulia, faitalia lona loto e.
1 A traditionary stone at Aopo.
2 The same.
3 A place in Sasina.
4 The drinking-water of Sasina.
5 The malae.
6 A place which divides the south wind.
7 A reef.
8 Pieces of land.
9 Laud of Tu‘u.
10 A name of Tu‘u.
11 The name of a fine mat.
12 The name of a place.
13 The husband's name from whom he had taken the wife. The child was to be attributed to him.
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