Question

The coconut tree is one of the most common trees in the islands of Tahiti. The

Polynesians always tell a legend about its creation. It is known as the coconut tree legend.

A long time ago, a young girl called Hina was of real beauty due to her sun kissed skin

and silky hair. She was meant to marry the prince of eels. Frightened by the physique ofher suitor, who had a gigantic body and an enormous head, Hina ran away and took

refuge in the house of the fishing God – Hiro.

The latter was dazzled by the beauty of Hina and touched by her history, so he took one

of the young woman‟s hairs and with it fished the approaching eel. Hiro cut up the prince

of eels and wrapped his head in leaves. Before dying, the eel said to Hina, “Of all the

men who hate me, including you, Hina, you will one day kiss me to thank me. I will die,

but my prediction is eternal.”

Hiro entrusted the head of the eel to Hina and said to her, “Hina, girl of beauty, you can

return to your family and there, you will destroy this head. But throughout your journey,

do not put it on the ground because then the curse of the eel will come true.”

On her way back, the beautiful young woman and her followers who accompanied her

became tired and decided to take a bath in the river, forgetting the warning of the God,

Hiro. The eel‟s head, which had been put on the ground, penetrated the earth and from it,

a large tree was born, with a long trunk just like an immense eel, and with foliage similar

to hair; the coconut tree had just been born.

Hina was then condemned by the Gods to remain close to this river because the tree had

become taboo. Life went on until the day when a terrible dryness struck the lands and

during which only the coconut resisted the sun. Thus, in spite of God's prohibition against

touching this tree, men picked its fruit full of clear and nutritive water. Each fruit was

marked with three dark spots laid out like two eyes and a mouth on which the men put

their lips in order to drink the coconut water. Hina did the same. And the prophecy of the

prince of eels came true.

(i) What prompts Hina to run away?

(2)Who helps Hina? How?

(iii) What was the curse that is placed on Hina?

(iv) How does the prediction of the prince of eels come true?​​

Answer 1

Answer:

The coconut tree is one of the most common trees in The Islands Of Tahiti. The Polynesians always tell a legend about its creation… The coconut tree legend…