and that they came along anyhow by the sea side of the road. The women[1] made a rush and struck the man because he had broken the law. Then the women[1] made a stand; the women[1] held the troops in check. Aea-sasae was defeated and beaten. Aea-sasae was conquered and Aea-sisifo was victor.
This was why these two had come back from Pulotu: the saying of Ulufanuasesee, "I am of the conquered party; remember me." They brought their two professions, the profession of tattooing and the profession of war.[2] The profession of war was accomplished; their father was conqueror.
That tale is ended.
This is a Tale of the Origin of Tattooing.
These two left the district of Aea and came to the Itutaoa, and they came to Safotu.[3] The name of its chief was Seve. He was asleep, for it was night. Thus they called to him: "Seve, Seve! do you wish to engage in our profession?" When these two came the chief was startled, and he told his dream to the family, saying: "Friends, this is my dream. A travelling party of two called out to me, saying, 'Seve, do you wish to engage in our profession?'" When the morning was light, Seve said to his daughter, "Woman, let us go to the east to my friend." They came to Salelavalu to his friend Mafua, the name of the chief. The travelling ladies were with him, and Mafua was preparing food for them. He spread lots of good things before the travellers. Seve and his daughter entered the
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 MS., "the woman."
- ↑ It looks as though Taema, one of the goddesses of tattooing, had been,'confounded with Taema, a war-god, sometimes incarnate in the kingfisher bird, sometimes present in a bundle of sharks' teeth. (Cf. Turner, pp. 54, 55-)
- ↑ The capital of Itu-taoa, which was the name for the north side of Savaii. {Turner, p. 255.)
