Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 2, 1891.djvu/520

464 house of Mafua. The ladies said: "You have come." Seve answered, "You are sitting there." Then they exchanged salutations. Mafua also saluted Seve, because he was his friend. Then he gave the fine mat of the daughter of Seve to the ladies. The ladies felt kindly towards Seve, and gave him some of the tattooing instruments. Then they went to their own town of Safotu with their profession, because they said: "Whether does Seve desire their profession?" That is one branch of the family of tattooers. Satulauena is its name. That is a very large family.

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He lived with the women. They said to Mafua, "Mafua, come and tattoo towards the sea. When you tattoo anyone let your kava be first; do not reject it in favour of another chief, but drink it yourself, for it is our kava to bring success to your profession." Mafua went to tattoo. The kava was made and was first offered to Mafua. He refused it, and went on with his tattooing. The tattooing was accomplished, and again they made kava. The first cup was offered to Mafua, again he refused, saying: "Let the chief be first, and let my kava be after." He then went to his house, where the women were sitting who had the profession of tattooing. They said: "You rest from your work." Mafua answered: "You are wishing success." The women said: "Come and tell us whether you followed your profession as we directed." He replied: "I went, and they made kava and served it out, bringing me the first cup. I refused, telling them to take it to the chief They took it to him first, and I again tattooed. When it was done they again made kava, and brought me the first cup; again I refused [saying], that the chief should be served first. They took it first to the chief, and I came after."