KI01-005 - The first coconut tree and sago tree

A story told by Lawrence Poduga. Long time ago, the first ancestors lived in caves. One day, after two brothers went fishing, the sea god was not happy to see them with many fish. The brothers ended up feeding all their fish to the sea god, to please him, and to save themselves from being eaten by the sea god. When the fish were finished, the elder brother, Te'gunu'pia, instructed the younger brother, Muu'mapi'suu, to feed the god with parts of his (the elder brother's) body. He was told to keep the head and the heart, take them to the village and plant them separately. Where he buried the head, a coconut tree grew, and where he buried the heart, a sago palm tree grew. From then on, people cut sago palm leaves to make thatched roofs for their houses. This is the story of how the first coconut and sago trees grew in Aitara, Siuwai. To date, the first places in Paapaala and Aitara, Siuwai, can be seen with strangely growing coconut trees and sago palm trees.. Language as given: