When I began researching Tongan folktales, it was hard to pick which ones to write about. Muni was one folktale I almost chose, and I would like to write about it today. As with all folktales, there is more than one version. The tales of Muni-matamahe were popular as his adventures remind the audience of Hercules. Sometimes he is referred to as the Tongan Hercules. The details of his birth are quite violent and that is why I decided not to use him as one of the tales in my children’s book. 😌
Here is one version….
Tongatapu was ruled by a wicked cannibal named Pungalotohoa, who killed and even ate his people. Muni’s parents, Motukuveevalu and his wife, Kae, decided to leave for Ha’apai Island. Kae, who was pregnant with Muni, set sail, and while on the sea, some of Pungalotohoa’s men killed Kae and tossed her unborn child into the sea. The child survived and was carried by the winds and the tides to a beach called Muni in the village of Lofanga on Ha’apai.
While on the beach, several sea birds began pecking at his face, and he was left with scars. That is where his name of matamahae came from, which means “torn face”. An old couple found him and raised him. As Muni grew, he was known in the village as one of the strongest boys, but he was also naughty and mischievous. The village council decided he must carry out several impossible tasks, and if he could not do the tasks, he and his parents had to leave the island. 😮
The first task was to weave half of a large communal fishing net. While Muni and his parents wove one half, the village wove the other half. Muni told his parents that he would do it and not to worry. He finished the task well before the villagers finished their half and they villagers were astonished.
For the second task, the elders asked Muni and his parents to build one-half of a fence in the village. Once again, he built the wall with ease. The next task was to build an outrigger canoe and a shed to house the canoe. Once again, Muni finished this task well before the villagers had finished the same task.
The elders came up with a new plan. This time, Muni and his parents had to watch over an anchored boat in a bay during the night. Nothing could happen to the ship, or they would be punished. As the night descended, some villagers cut the boat’s line, cut holes in the sides of the ship, and pushed it out to sea.
Muni awoke on the boat and tried to bail out the water as fast as possible. He tore a plank from the side of the ship and rowed to Fiji where he and his parents landed and set up camp. During the night, he heard his parents talking about the love they had for Muni, and the day they found him on the beach. He overheard them and demanded to know more about his real parents.
His parents told Muni the sad story about his mother, and that his father was hiding in the bush from the terrible cannibal in Tongatapu. Muni left to find his father, Motukuveevalu, who welcomed him to his makeshift home in the bush. The next day, Muni was clearing trees around his father’s home and built a fire to cook some food. Motukuveevalu was frightened because he feared that Pungalotohoa would find him because of the fire.
Muni told him he had nothing to fear as he went to confront the terrible cannibal himself. When he arrived at the cannibal’s house, he pulled up his prized kava plant, tore down his gate, and challenged him to a boxing match and a throwing contest. Of course, Muni won, and Pungalotoha’s gave him all his lands, titles, and possessions–even his wives before he died from the boxing match.
Muni became a great ruler and was beloved by all.
Art work above by
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