September is Chamorro and Carolinian Cultural Heritage Month in the CNMI, and so for the next month our practice group will be reading stories in honor of this celebration. This first story is about how Taga, a man known for his incredible strength, became chief of the island of Tinian. This story is from a book about Taga, which was first written down in English and then later translated into Chamorro. We found the Chamorro version, by Sylvestre Iguel, in the Pacific Languages Collection at UH Manoa when we visited in June. This post includes the Chamorro text, a Chamorro audio narration by Jay Che’le and an English translation. Happy reading!

Annai Humuyong Må’gas Tinian si Taga

Pinila’ as Sylvestre Iguel

Pues si Taga ha hasso humånao para Tinian. Ha konne’ i patgon-ña yan i asagua-ña ya manma’udai gi galaide’. Mampos chaddek si Taga mamoksai sa’ ti chågugu’ kareran-ñiha manmåtto Tinian.

I ma’gas Tinian esta gaige para u fantinaggam. Ha tungo’ ha’ na gof metgot si Taga na taotao ya ti malago’ na u mumu.

“Taga,” ilek-ña i ma’gas Tinian, “Maila’ ya u ta a’champa.”

“Maolek,” ilek-ña si Taga.

Pues i dos na må’gas ma chule’ i talayan-ñiha. I ma’gas Tinian ha yotte i talayå-ña, ti gof chågo’ kontra i inai. Annai ha båtsala hålom i talayå-ña, meggai guihan ni mandikike’ kinenne’-ña.

Lumuhan si Taga. Ti ha tungo’ si Taga månu nai meggai guihan. Pues tumohge si Taga gi kanton unai ya ha yotte i talayå-ña huyong gi hiyong måma’te.

Despues muñangu huyong gi taddong ya ha båtsala hålom i talayå-ña. Motmot i talayå-ña ni mandångkulon guihan siha.

“Hågu manggånna på’go na biahi,” ilek-ña i ma’gas Tinian.

“Ñålang yu’,” ilek-ña si Taga. “Maila’ ya ta na’lågu i guihan.”

“Ta nisisita niyok para ta lechi i guihan,” ilek-ña i ma’gas Tinian.

Despues ha feddos i trongkon niyok ya ha daggao påpa’ unos kuantos grånon niyok.

Chumålek si Taga annai ha li’e’ este. “Ti taiguenao ombre!”

Tumohge ha’ si Taga gi trongkon niyok ya ha yengyong i trongko. Todudu i niyok gi trongko mamoddong, kontodu i daddek siha.

Luhan yan manman i ma’gas Tinian. Lao ayu ha’ ilek-ña, “Maila ya ta kacha’ yan ta kåmyo i niyok.” Pues ha kacha’ i niyok ya ha nå’i i asagua-ña para u kåmyo.

Chumålek ta’lo si Taga ya ilek-ña, “Ti taiguenao ombre.”

Pues ha chule’ i niyok ya ha lassas ha’ nu i kannai-ña. Despues ha yamak i niyok nu i dos kannai-ña ya ha fugo’ i leche-ña.

Esta si Taga ha gånna i ma’gas Tinian tres biåhi. Gof mamåhlao i ma’gas Tinian ya humånao. Pues humuyong guiya si Taga i nuebu na må’gas Tinian.

When Taga Became Chief of Tinian

Translated by Sylvestre Iguel

And so Taga thought to go to Tinian. He took his child and his wife and they rode in a canoe. Taga paddled very fast because their journey to Tinian was not very far.

The chief of Tinian was already there to meet them. He already knew that Taga was a very strong person and he didn’t want to fight him.

“Taga,” the chief of Tinian said, “Come and we will compete with each other.”

“Good,” Taga said.

Then the two chiefs took their fishing nets. The chief of Tinian flung his net, not very far from the sand. When he dragged his net in, there were many small fish that he caught.

Taga became afraid. Taga didn’t know where there were a lot of fish. So Taga stood on the beach and he flung his net out, beyond the shallow water.

Afterward, he swam out into the depths and he dragged in his net. His net was full of big fish.

“You are the one who won this time,” the chief of Tinian said.

“I’m hungry,” Taga said. “Come and we will cook the fish.”

“We need coconut to cook the fish in milk,” the chief of Tinian said.

Afterward he climbed the coconut tree and he shook the trunk. All of the coconuts in the tree fell down, including the young coconuts.

The chief of Tinian was afraid and amazed. But all he said was, “Come and we will husk and grate the coconut.” Then he husked the coconut and he gave it to his wife to grate.

Taga laughed again and said, “Not like that, come on!”

Then he took the coconut and he peeled it with just his hands. Then he broke the coconut with his two hands and he squeezed out its milk.

Taga had already beaten the chief of Tinian three times. The chief of Tinian was very ashamed and he left. And so he, Taga, became the new chief of Tinian.

References

Baker, F. (1975). Si taga i metgot (S. Iguel, Trans.). Media Production, Marianas District Dept. of Education.