[🐢 THE SACRED TURTLES OF KADAVU – Essay Questions and Answers
A Fijian Legend
1. Narrate the legend behind The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu.
Answer:
The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu is an interesting Fijian legend connected with the village of Namuana on the island of Kadavu.
Many years ago, a beautiful princess named Tinaioboga, the wife of the chief of Namuana, lived there with her daughter Raudalice. The mother and daughter often went fishing on the reefs near their home. One day, they went farther than usual and became deeply interested in fishing.
They did not notice a war canoe approaching them. It carried fishermen from the nearby village of Nabukelevu. The fishermen suddenly jumped from their canoe, caught the two women and bound their hands and feet with vines. They threw them into the canoe and started their journey home. Though the women begged for mercy, the cruel fishermen did not listen.
The gods of the sea took pity on the helpless women. Suddenly, a terrible storm arose. Huge waves tossed the canoe about, and it was almost filled with water. The fishermen were shocked to see that Tinaioboga and Raudalice had changed into turtles.
To save themselves, the frightened fishermen threw the turtles into the sea. As soon as they did so, the storm stopped and the sea became calm again.
According to the legend, Tinaioboga and Raudalice continued to live as turtles in the waters of the bay. Their descendants still rise to the surface when the maidens of Namuana sing their traditional song from the cliffs.
Thus, the legend explains the origin of the strange turtle-calling ritual of Namuana and shows the rich cultural traditions and beliefs of the Fijian people.
2. Describe the strange turtle-calling ritual practised by the women of Namuana.
Answer:
One of the most interesting traditions of the Fijian village of Namuana is the strange ritual of calling turtles from the sea. It is an ancient custom connected with the legend of Tinaioboga and Raudalice.
A visitor who wishes to see the ceremony reaches a beautiful bay beneath the cliffs of a rocky headland. Visitors may sit on the rocks below or climb about 150 to 200 feet up the rock face to get a better view.
The maidens of Namuana gather on the cliffs and begin to sing a strange traditional chant. As they continue singing, something wonderful happens. Giant turtles begin to rise one by one to the surface of the blue water and appear to listen to the song.
The people consider these turtles sacred. Therefore, fishing for turtles is forbidden in this part of the sea.
There is another curious feature of the ritual. If a person from the nearby village of Nabukelevu is present, the turtles will not rise to the surface. In such a situation, the turtle-calling ceremony has to be abandoned. This belief is connected with the ancient legend in which fishermen from Nabukelevu captured Tinaioboga and Raudalice.
The song sung by the women calls Raudalice and Tinaioboga to rise to the surface so that the people may look at them.
The legend may sound unbelievable, but the lesson states that the chanting of this strange song actually lures the giant turtles to the surface near Namuana. Thus, the turtle-calling ceremony is a fascinating combination of nature, legend, belief and cultural tradition.
3. How does The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu combine travel, legend and cultural tradition?
Answer:
The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu is more than a simple legend. It introduces us to the landscape, customs, traditions and beliefs of Fiji and shows how travel can help us understand the culture of a place.
The lesson takes us to Kadavu, one of the larger islands of the Fiji group. The village of Namuana lies near Vunisea Harbour. The beautiful bay, rocky cliffs, sea and surrounding landscape provide an attractive setting for the unusual turtle-calling ceremony.
The most remarkable cultural tradition of Namuana is the ritual in which the village maidens stand on the cliffs and sing a traditional song. Hearing the chant, giant turtles rise to the surface of the sea. Turtle fishing is forbidden in the area, showing the special respect given to these creatures.
Behind this ritual lies the legend of Tinaioboga and her daughter Raudalice. They were captured by fishermen from Nabukelevu while fishing. When the sea gods created a violent storm, the two women were transformed into turtles. The fishermen threw them into the sea, and the storm immediately ended. According to the legend, their descendants are the turtles that respond to the songs of the Namuana maidens.
The story also shows how legends are passed from one generation to another and become part of the cultural identity of a community. The ritual, traditional song and belief in the sacred turtles keep the old story alive.
Thus, the lesson shows that travel is not merely about seeing beautiful places. Real travel also introduces us to the customs, beliefs, legends and traditions of different people. The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu beautifully brings together natural beauty, travel experience and Fijian cultural heritage.]