Long ago, when the islands of Fiji were still young and the gods still walked among trees, lived a boy named Lote in the village of Savusavu. Lote was the youngest of seven sons, quiet and often overlooked, but his eyes held the fire of the sea clear, observant, and patient. This is his story with the Rainbow Eel.
His village nestled along the coral-fringed coast, where fishermen cast their nets and sang to the ocean, hoping to win her favor. One day, a terrible stillness came over the waters. The fish vanished, the coral paled, and the elders spoke of a powerful being the Uro ni Cagi, the Rainbow Eel, who had stolen the sea’s bounty for himself and hidden in the deep caverns of the reef.
According to the tale passed through hushed lips, only one pure of heart and brave in spirit could lure and catch the Rainbow Eel. Many warriors had tried, with spears and nets woven from sacred hibiscus, but none returned. Still, the village grew hungry, the sea unkind.
Lote and the Rainbow Eel
Lote, small but wise beyond his years, listened quietly. While others scoffed, he remembered the stories his grandmother once told of how the Rainbow Eel loved music and shimmered brighter when offered coconut milk and gentle words.
So, one dawn, without permission but with a heart full of purpose, Lote set off in a small canoe. He carried no spear. Only a flute carved from bamboo, a woven basket of ripe coconuts, and a garland of vudi flowers.
He paddled toward the sacred reef, past waters where even the dolphins no longer played. There, he sang not loudly, but softly, with reverence and played his flute. The notes danced over the waves like whispers to the wind.
Hours passed. The sun climbed. Just as Lote began to doze, the water beneath his canoe churned.
And then he saw it.
The Rainbow Eel tests Lote
The Rainbow Eel rose, long as a canoe and glowing with the colors of every sunset. It shimmered with blues and violets, yellows and fire-red streaks. Its eyes were old as the ocean. It did not attack. Instead, it listened.
Lote offered a coconut, pouring its milk into the sea. The eel drank. He played his flute again, this time a melody of longing and belonging. The eel swam in slow circles, entranced.
Then came the test. The eel spoke not with a voice, but with the swell and pull of the tide. “Why do you call me, child of the shallow land?”
Lote, heart pounding, answered, “I do not wish to trap you. I only ask you share the sea with my people again. They are starving.”
The eel studied him, then coiled upward like a tower of color. “Many have come with spears. None came with songs. I will return the fish but you must prove your heart.”
A wave swept over the boy’s canoe, and when it cleared, the eel had vanished. In its place shimmered a golden scale, radiant like the sun. Lote took it and returned home, guided by dolphins that suddenly appeared beside him.
As he neared the village shore, fish leapt around his canoe. The sea had awakened.
That night, as the village feasted, the elders wept in joy. The rainbow colors danced in the waves again. Lote’s golden scale was placed in the bure kalou, the temple house, where it glowed in the dark.
From that day forward, Lote was no longer just the youngest son. He became Lote na Daunilotu, Lote the Listener, the one who caught the Rainbow Eel not with force, but with kindness, music, and courage.
Moral / Life Lesson
This Fijian folktale teaches us that true bravery lies not in strength but in understanding. Lote’s success came from listening, from respecting the old stories, and from seeking harmony over conquest. Sometimes, the most powerful changes come from gentle hands and honest hearts. The tale reminds us to honor the natural world not with dominance, but with humility and compassion.
Knowledge Check
1. What is the moral of the folktale “The Boy Who Caught the Rainbow Eel”?
The story teaches a lesson about courage, kindness, and listening to nature, showing that empathy and respect can bring about powerful change.
2. What cultural group does the tale “The Boy Who Caught the Rainbow Eel” come from?
This folktale originates from the Fijian tradition in Oceania.
3. Why did Lote go after the Rainbow Eel?
In the tale, Lote went after the Rainbow Eel out of love for his people and the desire to restore balance to the sea, setting the plot in motion.
4. How does the folktale “The Boy Who Caught the Rainbow Eel” explain the sea’s abundance?
The story offers a traditional explanation that the sea’s bounty was returned by the Rainbow Eel after being respectfully approached and honored.
5. Is “The Boy Who Caught the Rainbow Eel” considered a trickster tale, ghost story, or moral fable?
“The Boy Who Caught the Rainbow Eel” is a moral parable that reflects Fijian values of humility, bravery, and respect for the natural world.
6. How is this folktale relevant to modern readers?
The message of “The Boy Who Caught the Rainbow Eel” remains relevant as it teaches timeless truths about compassion, bravery, and our relationship with nature.
Origin:This Folktale comes from the Fijian people of Oceania.
