mc_nafsan_litog

Yes, we have a natopu. Has anyone talked to you about it?

Ore ipiatlak natopu nigmam ni esa. Naat kipe gaag trausi?

Our natopu, the natopu from this place, he is the one who is there, who has been there from long ago until today.

Nigmam natopu nigmam ni esa, ga kin ito, ito ito pan, ito teetwei paakor mees.

He was there at the time of our ancestors. When our spirit he was here

Me ito, mal ni tiawi ni teetwei, malen natopu nigmam ito.

He would ask for a woman or a girl, he would ask that they give him a girl.

Go iptal, iptal nmatu. Iptal teesa nmatu, na ruktua teesa nmatu keskei.

And they would give him a girl. Once he wanted this girl,

Go rupo tua teesa nmatu iskei. Malnen imur na teesa nmatu ne,

her name was Litog.

teesa nmatu ne nagien ipi Litog.

He wanted this girl and he would send a message, saying (so that?)

Me imur teesa nmatu ne go ito tp̃olu na,

that they (his police) take his message. A natopu has assistants to do its work and they are called its

tenen rusel nafsan ga, ki taosi kin, [...] itp̃olu polis ga.

[code switch to Bislama] So he sent his police. He sent them with a message, all the small creatures that live in

Olsem hemi sendem polis blong hem, a? Itp̃olu polis ga, olsem, ol smol smol samting we oli stap long sol wota, a?

There was bêche-de-mer, shellfish.

Ipiatlak, na, pislama, kufa.

When the ancestors saw it they knew they were the police. They took the girl in the canoe, they came and they returned.

Malen tiawi rulemsi rutae, na polis rupa raru teesa nmatu ne rumai ruler pa.

Some times starfish come and the old people know.

Tete nrak tam̃ra, rumai tiawi rutae.

They are its police, they go to get a woman. Until, one day,

Rupi polis ga, rupa reki nmatu. Ipregi panpanpan naliati iskei.

they said, "We will prepare things for her and we will put them there.' And they put her there alive.

go runa, "Tukga kraksoksok me tukfan psi." Go rupo pan ga psi im̃ol.

Then they prepared mats for her. They prepared cloth for her, and when they were done they put them in a canoe and took them to it (Litong)

Malen kin ruga pregptaki m̃it, ruga pregptaki nkal, panpan inom rutatweki raru, rumsagi raru me rupa.

Because her house was up there somewhere. They took her all this stuff but the natopu's house was the big reef.

Nlaken esum̃ ga, ipato elag esanpe. Ruga msag serale nen plake pa me rupan me ga kipe pi nskau p̃ur iskei a?

She had appeared, there out in the deep sea. They went and found the reef and they knew that they would put their presents there.

Ipaakor to, ito elag nam̃oru. Rupa rupam̃or nskau nen ito rutae na rukfo psi esa.

And they put it there, they took her everything until there was no more, they stood it up there.

Go rukoi psi, ruga sat serale pan psi panpan inom, ale rulaoki.

They took a woman, Litog, they put her there, she was standing with all the things, but they went away.

Puet nmatu, Litog, rupsi ilao skot serale tu, me rukoipak em̃ae.

When they went away it was like a wave came up, do you see?

Malen rupak em̃ae itaos nao iskei, a?

It came and came, over that rock. Finished. It took her, alive, and went.

imai mai mai mai, p̃aakor faat ne. Inom. Iplake im̃ol pa.

It took her alive and she is alive to this day.

Go iplake im̃ol to, go im̃ol to tup̃̃ mees.

****

****

She keeps appearing today.

Ito paakor tup̃ mees.

Litog. Because it is his wife, she will disappear with the world.

Litog. Nlaken ipi nmatu ga, ilakor pi, kefo to panpanpan emermen kefo plake puel, tefla.

They gave the natopu a woman, they gave him a live woman.

Natopu nigmam ni esa, rutua nmatu, me rutua kin im̃ol.

And he is still there, until today. It's like that.

Go ga kin ito, ito tup̃ mees. Ale itefla.

Like our natopu from here, they gave him the woman, when he wants a woman they give her to him, alive.

Taos ni natopu nigmam ni esa, ratua malen imur nmatu, rutua kin im̃ol