Fijian folklore speaks of two ancient women known as Marama Rua or Yalewa Kalou, who possessed supernatural abilities. These figures are integral to local mythology and have been the subject of many legends over generations. In the village of Tukavesi, located in the district of Natewa in Cakaudrove, the tale of two “yalewa tevoro” (female devils) has been passed down, highlighting an incident when they were captured in the highland forests. To explore this narrative, reporters from The Sunday Times visited the dense jungle above Tukavesi in Buca Bay to take photographs of the purported site of capture and to gather insights from village elders. Their visit involved a sevusevu presented to Ravouvou, the village chief, seeking permission to narrate the story and explore old village sites linked to the yalewa tevoro.
According to legend, the ancestors of the current Tukavesi villagers first encountered these beings when the village was once situated at a location called Nakorotu, miles from the coast. The original settlement by these ancient people was established in the mountains at Navaki, where they constructed a formidable war fort. Eventually, the population migrated downhill toward the coast, passing through Matanituvu, Nakorotu, and finally settling at Tukavesi by Buca Bay.
Tukavesi headman, Selesitino Vosayaco, recounted that while at Nakorotu, the villagers were often baffled by the sudden disappearance of bananas and plantains from their gardens. Frustration grew as these thefts continued, prompting one villager to keep watch over the plantation. While hiding, he overheard high-pitched laughter and voices of women nearby. To his astonishment, he discovered two women joyfully eating the bananas and plantains. After indulging in their feast, the yalewa tevoro retreated into the forest, leaving behind a trail that the man decided to follow, eventually witnessing them vanish into the ground. He marked the spot with a stick before rushing back to the village to share his findings.
The men of the village, following the identified spot, began to dig and soon uncovered a crude burrow filled with banana and plantain peels. As they approached, they overheard one of the yalewa tevoro urging the other to hide from the approaching villagers. Terrified, the women begged for their freedom, promising supernatural powers in exchange, including the ability to control fire. Despite their enticing offers, the villagers refused. The village chief then ordered that they be taken back to the village for a different fate. During the ensuing struggle, one of the women managed to escape into the ground, while the other was captured.
The captured woman eventually married a villager and gave birth to two children, a son and a daughter, who were said to possess mystical traits due to their unique lineage. Miriama Vakabua, a witness from that era, emphasized that the siblings, Sera Poleni and Te Para, were well-known in the village for their strangeness and gifted abilities. Notably, the siblings displayed behaviors that were often beyond rational explanation, such as Sera’s ability to catch fish effortlessly or consume raw crabs.
Despite their extraordinary abilities, the siblings faced social difficulties. Witness accounts tell of their mother’s mysterious disappearance years later, which happened shortly after their younger sibling was born. One tale describes a confrontation between the mother and her husband over their child’s hygiene, leading her to vanish without a trace. The siblings’ legacy ended tragically as neither was able to have children, effectively extinguishing their bloodline, aligning with a shift towards Christianity that diminished traditional beliefs in the village.
The story surrounding Sera Poleni and her family not only reflects Fijian mythology but also highlights shifts in cultural beliefs over time.