TAKALAUA was engaged in building a Langi as his own sepulchre and in his enthusiasm for the work made heavy exactions on the labor and time of his people, even in the yam-planting season. This, at least, was the pretext for a conspiracy against him, which was mounted in the village of Pelehake, and for his murder by 2 of its leaders, Tamasi and Malofafa. Takalauas eldest son, Kauulufonua, would not allow the funeral to take place til hed avenges his father. He pursued the murderers to Eua, Haapai, Vavau and the Niuas, but they evaded him. At Niuatoputapu he rewarded the people for the help given him by allowing them the right to refuse any Tongan canoe permission to land there (hence the name of that island). Still in pursuit he followed the assassins to Niue, Samoa and Futuna (in the latter place giving the people the right to rob any Tongan canoe which should land there). Finally the fugitives were taken on Uvea (where for their help the people were given the right to comb), with a sting-ray tail, the hair of any Tongans who should land there). But once they were caught Kauulufonua exacted a terrible vengeance on the murderers of his father, so terrible indeed that thereafter he bore the additional name Fekai (the savage). He knocked out the teeth of his captives and then forced them to chew with their bleeding gums the dry kava root which was used for the kava ceremony to celebrate their capture...then theyre dispatched and their bodies cut up to serve as the the Fono food for the same celebration. Only when his father had been so avenged would Kauulufonua allow him to be buried.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 17:13:59 +0000