Author: XXXXXX I Illustrator: XXXXXXX I Narrator: XXXXXXX I Vosa vaka-Viti translator/editor: XXXXXXX I Cultural advisors: XXXXXXX
Vosa vaka-Viti | English |
Tikotiko kina ena dua na gauna makawa sara, e dua na veibuni o Damu kei Ravula. | Once upon a time, long long ago, there lived a grandmother called Damu and her grandchild, Ravula. |
Ena dua na yakavi, ni rau lesu tiko mai na vakacakau, rau sota sara kei na qase o Samu. Ratou sa mani laki vakayakavi ka vakayagataka vata sara na nodrau lewe ni noke. | They met an old man called Samu, as they returned from the reef, one evening. They, then shared a meal with Samu from what they gathered and filled their fishing-basket with from the reef. |
Ni oti nai vakayakavi … sa tatau sara o Samu … ia sa sureti rau talega na veibuni … Ia me rau kua ni berata yani na 6 na kaloko ena yakavi ni siga lokuci. | Samu bids his farewell …after having dinner….at the same time inviting the two …..For the two not to be late for the 6 o’clock on the day agreed upon. |
Wawa toka o Samu ena yakavi oya … rau berabera na veibuni … kania kece sara na kakana sa vakarautaka tu …Taura na nona moto ni cocoka … ka siro sobu yani i batiniwai me laki cocoka ni bogivula tiko. | Samu waited that evening …..the two were late to arrive ….he ate all the food prepared…..Took his fishing spear …..he descended to the waterfront with his spear, during the moonlit night to spear fish. |
Rau qai yaco yani … sa lala tu na vale nei Samu … ka sa vo tu ga na sui ena loma ni kuro vakaviti … Rau sa mani lesu tale … ia sa mositi rau lo toka na ka e vakayacora o Samu … Rau sa mani nakita na veibuni me rau sa laki vakabuto taka mada na rarama ni vula … me drava kina na nona laki cocoka o Samu. | When they arrived …..there were no more food left at Samu’s house…..all that was left were bones inside the Fijian pot…..So they returned….yet they were silently hurt by what Samu had done….. So grandmother and grandchild planned to cast a dark shade over the moonlight….to muddy Samu’s plan to go spear fishing. |
Rau vakarautaka sara eso na vakalolo me kena baca … ka vakakina na dai ni vula … ka rau mai tekivu laga toka yani na meke me rau kacivi Adi Vula sobu mai kina … | They prepared some [Fijian] delicacies as bait…..to also use to bait the moon…..so they started chanting to call Adi Vula down….. |
“Dididi o Damu kei Ravula … Mai na lomadrau me rau vakamatea na vula … Kemu sivaro ra Vula … Kemu sivaro ra Vula”
“D…d….d….Damu and Ravula…….Deep within, they wish to kill the moon…..Here’s your delicacy oh Moon….Here’s your delicacy oh Moon”
Tekivu siro mai o ra Vula … ka kania na vakalolo … Ia, sa vakarau tale tokaga e rua na kitu … e dua e sinai toka kina na waitui … me bokoca vakadua na matai Tinai Rai … kei na kena i karua … e sinai toka ena lolobo kei na wai … me rau na vakayagataki ruarua. | The Moon began to descend … and ate the [Fijian] delicacy…….There were two coconut shells ….one was filled with seawater…….to blind Tinai Rai…….and the second one……was filled with mud and water….to be both used. |
Ena nodrau a vakaraici ra Vula tokaga ni se cuvara tiko na vakalolo … ea mani veisautaka cala kina o Ravula na makubuna nai sogo ni kitu ka tawa toka kina na waitui … | As they watched the Moon bending over the delicacy …..Ravula, the grandchild incorrectly exchanged the lid for the coconut shell which contained the seawater….. |
Rau waraka tale vakalailai me wele o ra Vula ena nona cuvara toka na vakalolo … rau duri vataga ena dua na gauna ka virika yani na matai ra Vula … Kidacala o ra Vula … Salavata kei na nona sa biuta na dai … ka calati koya na kena i vakabiri … tekivu me sa nawa lesu cake e maliwa lala. | They waited for a while the Moon delved into the delicacy…..they both stood up at the same time as they threw into the Moon’s face……..The Moon was shocked……As it left the trap ……which it missed as it began to return to space above. |
Ia, rau a viriki koya tu ena kitu cala na veibuni … ea lauviri o Adi Vula ena kitu ka sinai tu kina na lolobo … sega ni waitui. Sudra cake vakatotolo sara tale ki lomalagi o Tinai Rai … ka laki dredre kelakela tu mai ni sa cala na nodrau i naki na veibuni … Ia sa kabi dei tu e matana na we ni nodrau kitu lolobo o Damu kei na makubuna o Ravula … ka se tavutonotono tokaga ena matai Adi Vula e dai. | Grandma and her grandchild had thrown the wrong coconut shell …… Adi Vula had been thrown with coconut shell filled with mud……and not seawater. Tinai then quickly rose to the sky ……and smiled at the two as their plans were foiled…..However, today, one can see the dotted marks of bag of mud, on Adi Vula’s face thrown by Damu and her grandchild Ravula. |
