“Council of War”
This was my paternal grandfather’s talking chief title. In Sāmoan custom one must have a connection to a title and only Ali’i can create or abolish a title.
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The Carpenter here named is Nu’u / Noah. Another version has a carpenter named Manu sent on orders from Tagaloa in heaven who assists Nu’u with the construction of the Va’a/Whaka/bark/ARK.
In India, the Hindu version of the Deluge names Manu as their Noah.
Note 1: Malae o Vevesi ma Malae o Toto'a
attention to: John Fanene
The two Malae initially described in this passage could refer to a time of peace (toto = blood, 'a = negation particle; thus: "cessation of bloodshed" = "peace") attained after a lengthy period of violence (vevesi).
Note 2:
Since "heaven" is a long way off. Taking fish for food seems like a risky business... This can be regarded as:
1) Literal or
2) Metaphorical
1) Literal interpretation of "fish":
The Pacific is abundant with animal protein as a food supply. If the ancient world was peopled by a prolific, agricultural civilization teeming with hungry citizens, then food from the sea was a necessary supplement to the diet in times of drought and famine. On the other hand, "fish" could be a metaphor for something else, unless pickling / preservation of fish was a technology that Samoans were acquainted with 3000 years ago. Today, Pacific caught fish are a huge source of animal protein to supplement urban centers around the world thanks to refrigeration, canning, pickling methods.
2) Metaphorical interpretation:
IF this is a metaphor, then, alternately:
Fish = men, or...
Fish = women (Sumerian language is filled with metaphorical language and allusion to women's nether parts as "fish", and not in a negative fashion)
Or Fish = people, captives, slaves, religious converts. The rationale for this is the prolific use of "net" and "fishing line" metaphors in a predatory context when describing the capture of slaves, destruction of enemy combatants, and in the worst-case scenarios related to 'aitu known to be cannibals, the capture of humans for food.
BEST FISH = not any people, but the most apt / able of body and mind to serve the chiefs and Tagaloa in the heavens in various capacities.
Bonito - Sarda Chiliensis - one of the most prolific fish in the Pacific. The population of this species varies analogously with the surface temperature of the sea, rising in number with the warming, diminishing with cooling.
Note 3:
THE MANY HEAVENS:
There are ten heavens in the Samoan cosmogony. Heaven is a metaphorical place on Earth attainable only with great effort and permission as the ways to heaven have closely guarded borders, and imply a westward journey towards Po, the direction of the sun's nighttime journey--the Underworld.
IN HEAVEN are:
Malae Auasia = "proud" = AU+ASIA = MALAE OF+ASIA? #MALAYSIA
Malae Tafuna'i = the field is ruined/desolate
Malae Papa = field of earth / terrace
Malae o Vevesi = war council
Malae o Toto'a = peace council
4) THE CARPENTER(S)
The carpenter and faletufuga / fale tufuga
The carpenter is a named individual in some Solo / Tala who is sent to assist Taua-Nu'u
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