Appendix K
Chant, Bonito School
Emory, Kenneth P. 1965. Kapingamarangi: Social and Religious Life of a Polynesian Atoll. Bernice P. Bishop Museum Bulletin 228. Honolulu, Hawai'i: Bishop Museum Press.(p. 332, 332)
Reprinted by Permision of: Bishop Museum Press,Honolulu,
Hawai'i
The following was composed by women at Ringutoru about the time of the ariki Haiatu, also known as Takau, and dictated and explained by Rimari.
RANGA TI NAHO
CHANT OF THE SCHOOL OF BONITO
Te naho ka uru i mango (=manga) te okau (=akau), te kite ia
me atu a mira huri raro akau, tukia mai pe ko tai o Turotohati
(=Pumatahati).
When the school enters the break in the reef, the bonito do not
realize it. They circle, turn into the reef, reaching the vicinity
of Pumatahati.
Ku otia mai e nia tama tono rongo ki Kapingamarangi.
Men inform the people of Kapingamarangi.
Tono tai a, hai mai hua ko nia mea o ti po ki nua.
(The ariki Haiatu ? decides) "Tomorrow (we will) do
the things pertaining to ti-po-i-nua.
Ke tuku wai 'ha ko Te-pupu-i-hanga, tahi rau niu hariki tia
ma ki ono nua.
Then the canoe Te-pupu-i-hanga is launched, the end of a coconut
leaf is placed on top of it.
Taro a hua pe ko rangi ate hai (=tai) moto.
It is headed for the little islets across the lagoon.
Waka teu ta re (=rere) e hano ki maringa te naho atu.
The trim canoe of the ocean flies, goes to the border of the school
of bonito.
Re a mai hua taro katea toku wawa, te kawea he koru me.
(The ariki of the starboard canoe) says, "keep to
the right, that is my place, don't you two others take it."
Re ake hua Motomaumau hunu kono tai e ra whati tu mai roto
Hetau nei.
Motomaumau (this is Rukio, son of Haiatu) reports that the water
off Hetau is being ruffled (by the school).
Kahi ake hua toro tamana ne ngaro anahi ne kawe taku i naho
ki uru I ki pu Kuatirongo.
(He) calls upon his late father, "Bring my school to enter
the pocket at Kuatirongo."
Tukia mai turu pe toko Wahangaeha hunu kono tai e miro ra uta
me awa.
Reaching the two coral heads by the open reef (in the south),
the water swirls over the reef.
Re ake hua tama i whatinga (=ti hatinga) hai Rokau (=Rakau).
The man at the pocket of the net at Rakau islet exclaims,
Hakatanga ika tu o waerua rere mawa i re mata ho ariki pahi
tenga iha. One roto ka puni rere he.
"A fish strikes between the eyes the priest-of-the-north-end-(of-Touhou),"
(the ariki of the starboard canoe). He was speechless (with
fright).