In the village of Lepu’a, there lived a couple named Taue and Fa’alaulaue. They had only one child, their daughter Sina. Sina was a beautiful young lady. Not only was her face beautiful but she was also very strong physically. This was the reason her parents were very proud of her. Sina’s parents were even happier because of the many things they were able to receive from suitors who came to propose to Sina. Not only were their proposals from men of Samoa but also from other men in the Pacific islands.

The first proposal to Sina’s parents was Tui Toga. Sina’s parents accepted Tui Toga’s proposal because they felt bad that Tui Toga traveled so far and especially because of the many gifts they brought for Sina and her parents. However, they continued to ask regarding Sina’s thoughts about it and Sina’s response to her parents was, “I do not wish to be married this day.” For that reason, Tui Toga returned with his entourage because Sina turned down his proposal.

Not too long after Tui Toga’s proposal was rejected, Tui Fiti arrived with his gifts of proposal. However, Sina also rejected Tui Fiti’s proposal. The Tui Fiti returned but left all of his gifts and loads of presents for Sina and her parents. Sina also rejected proposals from all other chiefs and untitled men of Samoa who came to talk to her parents.

Sina continued to live with her parents until Sina was ready for a husband so she uttered to herself, “Who will I marry because I have not found anyone who have come to propose that I would be happy with and truly love.”

Sina’s thoughts were interrupted when she heard the rumors about Tigilau, the Prince of the village of Savavau.  The story Sina heard was that, “Tigilau was a very handsome man and all that he had on his land was intended for Sina.”  Sina thought about this and started to desire and dream of Tigilau.

One day, Sina went and sat under the pu’a-gagana (talking wild hibiscus) tree and wondered what this pu’a- gagana tree would say to her. The cool breeze gently blew towards pu’a-gagana and for this reason, all of the blossoms of the pu’a-gagana cried out saying, “Tigilau is hopefully waiting for you.” Sina started to be weak in her own thoughts and the more she longed to see Tigilau. She stood up and walked towards the house.

She made up her mind that she will go and search for Tigilau and make him her husband. She then grabbed her ‘ie toga (fine mat), tied it around her waist and placed a comb on her hair while holding a fan in her hand then walked out.

Sina jumped into the ocean and swam towards the village in which Tigilau was.  She swam night and day and arrived at the village by the water and climbed on top of the water and stood there. She then saw her reflection in the water and realized her body was all red due to the seawater and the sun and the long swim she traveled afar from. Not only was her body a beautiful red color, but her face was even more beautiful!

Not long after she was standing by the water, Tigilau’s ‘autaunonofo (single bethrothed women) servants came on top of the water. They saw her sitting on the water and they wondered who this young lady was as they marveled at her beauty that surpassed them all. The servants became jealous because of her beauty and they started saying, “It is best we find a way to kill this beautiful lady because if Tigilau saw her, he would want her.”

The other women said, “Let us not kill her, otherwise Tigilau will be angry but we need to tell Tigilau’s ‘ilamutu (evil spirits) named Samumeamanogi and Sau’aitagata. So they all consented to that decision.

Tigilau’s ‘autaunonofo servants arrived at the water and they saw a young lady bathing in the water. Sina asked the ladies, “Please can you tell me where I can find Tigilau?”.

The ‘autaunonofo servants were happy that Sina had asked because they were not going to tell her where Tigilau was but they were going to tell her where his ‘ilamutu resided so that Sina would go there and be eaten by Tigilau’s ‘ilamutu. They then said to Sina, “Come, Tigilau just left this side of the village. He went inland behind the village but come and take this road.” They showed Sina the way and said to her again, “When you go through this route, you will come to a place where the road is divided. The road to the right, you will reach the plains; but the road to the left, you will reach the resting place of Tigilau.”

Sina then walked happily with the thought that she was directed to the right place by the ‘autaunonofo servants of Tigilau. Sina arrived where the road was divided, then she followed the road to the left as told to her by the women. Sina kept walking happily preparing her body along the road and thinking to herself it won’t be long before she meets with Tigilau.

However, her happiness quickly changed when she saw a fence built with human skulls. She then knew that the ladies she met at the water had lied to her. Sina didn’t turn around nor did she feel defeated with her current predicament. She pushed forward prepared to face the difficulties she was in. She also continued knowing that this was a trap the women showed her.

As she got closer to the fence with skulls, she saw the movement from the precious rocks that covered the floor of ‘ilamutu. Not only that, she also saw many treasures behind the back of the house. The entire land inside the fence had many different trees and flowers of many colors.

As she approached the fence, it started to fall apart. She walked towards the house and destroyed everything that was there. She came out of the house and cut down the trees and burned all the flowers. After she destroyed everything outside, she then made her way in to the house and laid down and pretended to sleep in the front. She grabbed the tapa cloth that was in the house and covered her legs.

Not too long after she laid down, Samumeamanogi arrived to the house. The ‘ilamutu saw the awful condition of the land and house, so she dropped outside of the house because she was so angry. She was crying curses because she was extremely angry and said these words:

O ai le pua’a e moe nei?        (Who is the pig who sleeps here?)

Ua na soloi le pa nei,            (Who has destroyed this fence?)

Ma fa’atafanua le fanua nei?  (And destroyed this good land?)

A o ai na na fa’ataga lou lalelei   (And who allowed your beauty?)

E te talai le oloa nei?             (Who authorized the opening of these goods?)

O le’a fa’atali nei se’i ta talanoa lelei (I will await outside so we can have a good talk)

Sina heard these words and she sat up and cried and said these words:

O ai le pua’a e e’e nei?     (Who is the pig that is yelling?)

A ‘ou fa’atali i fale nei se’i ta talanoa lelei (I will wait in the house so we can talk)

‘Aua na agi atu le fisaga (Because I felt the wind blowing)

Ma gagana alofa ai fua o lo’u pu’agagana (The message of love came from the pu’a tree)

Ua mafua ai ona si’i mai la’u avagaga (This is the reason why I am here)

Sa aupo, auao le ausiga ( I swam for nights and days)

Ma taunu’u i Savavau le sa’iliga ( I landed my search in Savavau Village)

Sa ou fesili i le ‘autaunonofo a Tigilau (I asked the servants of Tigilau)

Po’o fea o iai lo’u au (Where is my love?)

Sa latou faasino sese a’u e ala i le fau (They gave me the wrong directions)

Ae tu’u le ala i le gau, o lo’o moeseu ai Tigilau (Then kept the right direction where Tigilau resides).

Samumeamanogi heard the words of Sina and developed a love for her. He then went to the house and told Sina, “Poor thing, you would have died had the wicked lady cannibal up here had found you. But come, prepare well your words to cry out when she arrives. Try not to cry like that again but change your words before you upset her and she kills you.”

Sina then said, “It is well, thank you for your help, but please how will I know when she arrives?”

Samumeamanogi answered, “You will know when she comes when there is first a heavy downpour of rain, the burst of thunder, bolt lightning, shaking of earthquakes and the land will be darkened.”

Sina replied to Samumeamanogi, “Thank you for everything you have shown me.”

Sau’aitagata reached beside the house then she smelled the fragrance of Sina. She started to laugh and said, “This is probably my feast from my brother Tigilau.” She then dropped her load of dead people and walked towards the house. Before she reached the house, she stopped as she saw how terrible the house looked. She then turned to the back and noticed that the land had been totally destroyed. She hit herself because she was very angry. She dropped down and cried like Saumeamanogi did. After Sau’aitagata cried, then Sina cried as she did initially to Saumeamanogi. Sau’aitagata heard Sina’s cry and she became extremely angry. She stood up and ran towards the house to eat Sina.

However, Saumeamanogi jumped out and protected Sina. But Sau’aitagata still wanted to reach Sina to eat her. Saumeamanogi turned and fought with Sau’aitagata. Sauaitagata fell while Saumeamanogi continued to beat her. Sau’aitagata became weak and said to Saumeamanogi, “Stop beating me but I will go to Tigilau to come with me to Sina.”

Sau’aitagata left Saumeamanogi and Sina, then went to get Tigilau. However, as she reached the middle of the road, she started to get angry again and started to say, “Alas, I do not know why this pig is strong up here but he is weaker than I.”  She then thought of returning to defeat Saumeamanogi and eat Sina. She then went back to the house and pull the hair of Saumeamanogi. However, Saumeamanogi beat and weakened Sau’aitagata again. Sau’aitagata once again moaned as she was in great pain.  She then said to Saumeamanogi, “Please stop beating me up again. I know now that I cannot defeat you, but let me go and get Tigilau to come with me to see Sina.”

Sau’aitagata then traveled on and reached where Tigilau lived. When she got there, Tigilau was asleep and Tigilau’s other wife and children were sitting there. Tigilau’s wife noticed the witch cannibal and then threw her firstborn to Sau’aitagata and said, “Bite that boy to satisfy your hunger because you must be hungry.”

Saua’itagata jumped with joy and captured the little boy. After the firstborn was eaten then the other children followed for the cannibal to eat. After eating all of the woman’s children Sau’aitagata cried out these words to Tigilau:

E tagi lava ita ma nofo i fafo nei  ( I cried and sit outside)

Aua ua tuli mai a’u e lo’u uso fialelei  (Because I was chased by my sister)

Fa’ita lava e alu atu le la mea e aulelei   (It is hard to see her beauty)

Tigilau e, e pi’opi’o, papala, ma susupa le teine o lo’o i uta nei. (Her body is deformed and ragged)

Tigilau sat up as he heard the words of his ‘ilamutu and he said, “Stand up and let us go to see what it is that brought you here.” Tigilau saw that Sau’aitagata’s stomach was bloated from the woman’s children and again he said, “If I had not awaken earlier you would have eaten me as well. But come let us walk.”

Sau’aitagata answered, “Oh! Oh! You stupid fool. Why should you be bothered with that? Just relay your thoughts then I will go and tell her.”

Tigilau said, “There is nothing like that, I will go with you still.”

Tigilau then walked with Sau’aitagata. When they reached a certain part of the road, Sau’aitagata said to Tigilau, “Come, you go ahead first up there, while I go to the other side to take care of a matter.”

So Tigilau went first inland while Sau’aitagata went to Savavau where the ‘autaunonofo servants of Tigilau and their children lived. Tigilau remembered his wives and children in Savavau, but it was too late. As soon as Sau’aitagata arrived, he swallowed and killed all of the ‘autaunonofo and their children.

Tigilau continued to walk inland but he could not forget his love for his children. He arrived at the house and saw Sina but he shunned her because of his love for his wives and children. For this reason, he did not talk well to Sina and he did not take Sina as his wife as he had once dreamed of. Sina was saddened by what had just happened, however, she accepted all the pain and difficulties because this is what she wanted.

While Tigilau, Sina and Saumeamanogi were sitting with sadness at the house, they suddenly saw Sau’aitagata with her belly hanging and dragging on the ground.

Tiglau saw her and said these words, “My poor children, they were swallowed alive by that vicious animal coming up.”

But Saumeamanogi stood up with anger and went with a big stick and beat Sau’aitagata. Samumeamanogi tried in vain to beat Sau’aitagata but she only laughed at her because she could not feel any pain.  Sau’aitagata laid down and mocked at Saumeamanogi and said these words, “Hey, be careful, I’m getting messy here. Why are you beating me up for?

Saumeamanogi said, “Hurry and spit out some of those children you have eaten.” Sau’aitagata then vomited out two boys. Then Tigilau said to Saumeamanogi, “Come and go with these boys to do your chores. And drag this lady (Sau’aitagata) while she is still weak, because when she regains her strength, we will not be able to stop her cannibal appetite.

So Saumeamanogi and the boys dragged the lady (Sau’aitagata) seaward while Tigilau and Sina took the other route towards the ocean. When Sina and Tigilau reached one of the houses, he dumped Sina there while Tigilau went and slept with other women of the village. Sina was left at the house by herself and was very sad. She thought back to the proposals of many men that wanted to marry her. And now she felt so mistreated and things didn’t turn out as she had hoped. She wondered if this was payment for rejecting all the proposals of those who traveled far to marry her.

In spite of this, her wishes were granted. Tigilau tried tirelessly to look for a woman that would satisfy him but he could not. That was the reason he returned to Sina and made her his one and only love. They both confessed their thoughts regarding their dreams and wishes for each other and now it was realized when they came together.  They then lived in their home and started their own family. Sina was happy as things have turned as she had hoped for and traveled so far for.