THE journey of Fijian ancestral gods Degei and Lutunasobasoba has been retold in so many forms.
Growing up, we may have heard a few of it from our own grandparents or elders in the household.
It is only that we hear these stories from many others in other parts of the country that we realise their journey has been retold through so many different versions all around the 14 provinces of the country.
While each and every province or community may have their different/own version and understanding of this information which we termed as our important piece of history, it is important to share as well on this space how some parts of the country relate this journey as told to them by their forefathers and a story that has been passed down from generation to generation.
Last week, we started off with how the mataqali Naobaka of Namotomoto, Nadi was given its name.
It all started off with the journey the ancestral gods Degei and Lutunasobasoba had taken on board their canoe, the Kaunitoni, in search of a place to live.
They had found a peaceful and beautiful harbour upon their journey and decided to make a stop, however, those already on land decided to light the fire after having seen already a canoe approaching their harbour.
This harbour in Nadi already had the early settlers on land and when those from inside the canoe saw the smoke asked each other if that was the cloud they had seen from a distance and they kept asking each other, “Na O beka ya? (Is that the cloud?)”
However, upon nearing the harbour, they found that this was smoke from a fire being lit up by the inhabitants of the island.
Upon confirming that there were people already on the place, they decided to continue the journey to other places where they could settle.
The head of the mataqali Naobeka Iliaseri Varo gave an interesting account of this piece of information which has been part of their history for many decades and something which has been passed down to them from many generations.
While this is not consistent with other oral and even written accounts of how Fiji was first settled by the iTaukei, what must be stressed is that it is the account of the kai Naobeka. It is not our intention to cause disquet, disputes or divisions among those who have a diffrent account of histroy, but merely to inform. If you happen to travel to Malolo one day from Denarau, you may happen to view from a distance a reef which can only be seen during the low tide known as Cakauwiriwiri.
It was near Cakauwiriwiri that the Kaunitoni had rested for sometimes while those on board the canoe hoped to search again for a place to settle.
This was when they decided to travel west and this headed straight to Viseisei.
Unfortunately, the Kaunitoni, according to Tai Varo, as he is commonly known, could not reach its desired destination as it had sunk somewhere near Nasoso.
It is also interesting to note that every place and landmark the Kaunitoni set foot on was given a name as we had witnessed with Cakauwiriwiri earlier on.
Those on board Kaunitoni then decided to make a visit inland.
“To confirm that their boat sank there,” Tai Varo continued.
“Lomo in the Nadi dialect means for something to sink in water.
“The name Lomolomo was named after the journey Degei and Lutunasobasoba had embarked on; unfortunately, their boat sank on the Lomolomo waters.”
Lomolomo Village is just before the chiefly village of Viseisei if you happen to travel from Nadi towards Lautoka.
At Lomolomo, the two gods together with their families and those on board Kaunitoni decided to continue their journey on land and this was when they found a beautiful place where they settled for sometimes before a fight broke out.
The place, according to Tai Varo, was named Viseisei.
Tai Varo claimed it was at Viseisei that they had a quarrel so some of them stayed back and made Viseisei their village while some others continued the journey where they had followed the Tualeita.
At Lomolomo there is a huge mountain behind the village.
This mountain, according to Tai Varo, connects all the way to Nadarivatu and even to some parts of the highlands of Naitasiri.
This, he says, is why the Ba Province could be rated as one of the biggest in the country as they covered all the Western Division right to Nadarivatu and Naitasiri.
This started all the way from the journey Degei and Lutunasobasoba had embarked on.
In another interesting twist of events uncovered in the country, this account of events by a paramount chief of Lewa in Nadarivatu was published by this newspaper three years ago.
It stated that as far as the Tui Cawanisa of Savatu, Ratu Semisi Ketewai is concerned, Lutunasobasoba was buried at Lewa.
Ratu Semisi, 87, a paramount chief in Nadarivatu, said after setting off from the mountain range in Sabeto, Lutunasobasoba arrived at Lewa, where he stayed for some time.
“This is the path taken by Lutunasobasoba and my house sits right in the middle of the tualeita,” he said while pointing out to the pathway.
“From the stories passed down by my forefathers, I know that Lutunasobasoba died in Bukuya (in the interior of Ba) and he was buried there.
“But at night, some warriors exhumed his body and buried it at Lewa. It’s at a place where no one will imagine a person can go to.
“Lutunasobasoba’s grave is at a place just near the source of the Sigatoka River in the Nadarivatu highlands.”
Ratu Semisi said the grave is in a cave and it is extremely difficult for any person to reach that spot.
A few years ago, Nai Lalakai’s Anare Ravula made an attempt to visit Lutunasobasoba’s grave, which is reportedly in Lewa.
“I had to use a rope to go down the cliff and reach near the cave.
“There’s water dripping at the mouth of the cave. And villagers say that if that water touches your body, then you will get skin diseases,” said Ravula.
The mountain range where Lutunasobasoba is said to have been buried is visible from the road leading to FEA’s hydro power stations.
By looking at the place from a distance, one can only imagine how people could reach that place and bury someone in a cave.
Ratu Semisi also revealed that the land at Lewa was cursed before, probably because of the tribal wars and cannibalism.
But, he believes that after Lutunasobasoba was buried in Lewa, the mana (good luck) started surfacing for the villagers.
“Nothing could be planted on the land before. But after Lutunasobasoba was buried in Lewa, the land has become fertile.
“Lutunasobasoba had some kind of mana (good luck) and the fruits of it are being seen now with the hydro electric projects in the area.”
Ratu Semisi also revealed for the first time that he is a direct descendant of Lutunasobasoba, saying he had blood ties.
He said his late father, Ratu Peni Nagata, who was buried metres away from his house and in the middle of the pathway, did not tell anyone about their connection to Lutunasobasoba.
