[🐢 The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu
Paragraph Questions & Answers
🌴 1. Describe Namuana village and its surroundings.
Namuana is a village on Kadavu, one of the larger islands of Fiji. It lies near the Government Station at Vunisea Harbour. The village is surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, including the sea, rocky cliffs and hills. The place is especially famous for the strange custom of calling turtles from the sea.
🐢 2. Describe the turtle-calling ritual of the women of Namuana.
The women of Namuana perform a remarkable ritual to call turtles from the sea. The maidens gather on the rocks or cliffs overlooking the bay and sing a traditional chant. As the singing continues, giant turtles appear one after another on the surface of the water. Fishing for turtles in this area is forbidden. This unusual ritual is one of the most fascinating traditions of Kadavu.
🚫 3. Why is the presence of a person from Nabukelevu significant during the turtle-calling ceremony?
According to the traditional belief of Namuana, the turtles will not appear if a person from Nabukelevu is present during the ceremony. If such a person is found among the visitors, the turtle-calling ceremony has to be abandoned. The reason for this belief is explained through the ancient legend of Tinaioboga and Raudalice.
🎣 4. Who were Tinaioboga and Raudalice? What happened to them while they were fishing?
Tinaioboga was the wife of the chief of Namuana and Raudalice was her daughter. One day, they went fishing on the reefs and travelled farther than usual. While they were busy fishing, fishermen from Nabukelevu approached them in a war canoe. The fishermen captured the two women, tied their hands and feet with vines and carried them away despite their pleas for mercy.
🌊 5. How were Tinaioboga and Raudalice saved from the fishermen?
The gods of the sea took pity on the helpless mother and daughter. A violent storm suddenly arose and the sea became dangerous. During the storm, the fishermen discovered that Tinaioboga and Raudalice had been transformed into turtles. Frightened, they threw the turtles into the sea. Immediately the storm ended and the waves became calm.
🎵 6. What is the significance of the traditional song sung by the maidens of Namuana?
The traditional song is closely connected with the legend of Tinaioboga and Raudalice. Through the song, the maidens call upon the two women to rise from the sea. It refers to them by name and recalls elements of their traditional life. Thus, the song keeps the memory of the ancient legend alive and forms an important part of the turtle-calling ceremony.
🐢 7. What connection does the legend establish between Tinaioboga, Raudalice and the turtles of Namuana?
According to the legend, Tinaioboga and Raudalice remained in the waters near Namuana after being transformed into turtles. The turtles that appear there are believed to be their descendants. When the maidens of Namuana sing their traditional song, the turtles rise to the surface. Thus, the legend provides the traditional explanation for the mysterious turtle-calling ritual.
🌏 8. How does The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu connect travel with culture and tradition?
The lesson shows that travelling is not merely about visiting beautiful places. It also gives us an opportunity to understand the customs, beliefs, legends and traditions of different communities. Kadavu attracts attention not only because of its natural beauty but also because of the turtle-calling ritual and the legend behind it. The lesson therefore presents travel as a means of discovering the cultural life of a place.]