THERE are myths and legends passed to us telling stories about our ancestors.
For the iTaukei, or the indigenous people of Fiji, these legends are expected to explain why things are the way they are or why land boundaries and historic landmarks are there.
These are stories passed orally and recorded in chants, traditional meke or dances. It makes up our way of life.
But with the advent of development and technology, these stories get lost — they die with the people — who know about them. One such story I came across was in Tavua and one I wish to share with readers.
It is the story of 10 brothers known as the yavusa Tinitini or clan of 10 brothers.
In the interior of Tavua, on my tour of duty to collect stories, I came across some rocks standing on the side of the road that pricked my curiosity.
The rocks looked like they were placed there intentionally.
They were placed in certain positions, some were lying down while some were sort of standing up.
There was definitely a story behind this.
I just had to present my sevusevu at the nearby settlement, seeking their assistance to tell me the story about the rocks.
In the middle of the conversation came the legend of the 10 brothers or the yavusa Tinitini.
Storyteller, Opeti Naio from Natoalevu settlement explained why they were called the yavusa Tinitini.
It was because of 10 brothers who lived together in the area.
They were known to be powerful and in every game and war they took part in, they won.
“These 10 brothers managed to win the game of veitiqa in Tonga and they came back with a fowl known as Turukawa,” Mr Naio said.
He claimed there were remains of a boat built by the brothers on top of a hill near the road that leads to Natoalevu settlement.
“They used the boat to travel around but it sank at a river called Nawaqa near Tavua. The name of that boat was the Waqavatu.”
“I am a descendant of Radua, the eldest of the 10 brothers. I will tell you the story behind these rocks.”
The legend, according to Mr Naioa, suggests the brothers went to a river for a swim, but unbeknownst to Radua, his brothers had other intentions.
When he came out of the water, he noticed his brothers were missing so he dove into the deep to search for them.
But on the way up he bumped into the base of a small hill that jutted out of the river.
That bump says Mr Naioa is present to this day on the hill. “Radua sensed something was wrong.
Then he heard noise from their bure where the brothers lived.
He rushed to the village and found his brothers flirting with his wife.
Filled with rage, he rushed towards his brothers to beat them.
In desperation, the men scattered and ran in all directions.
Mr Naioa said, according to legend, these brothers left the village and ran away.
“So the stones represent the 10 brothers and it’s placed in such a way to tell their story,” he said.
Mr Naioa said some villagers and visitors believe the stones hold special powers.
“They would come here to worship it or to lay gifts on it. Some would even go and tell the rocks their wish and it would come true — according to them,” he said with a smile.
But with old stories and legends, we have to live with many changes.
Lately a road was built near the settlement.
Mr Naioa fears such developments could pose a danger to their rocks and historic boundaries.
“There’s a lot of other landmarks here and we wish to protect them,” he said.
He said the descendants of the brothers now live in Nakorotubu in Ra, Nasolo in Naitasiri, and other parts of Fiji.
