LEGEND ADVERTORIAL
The mystery of the caves of
SAWA-I-LAU
Story by EPINERI VULA Illustration by ALBERT ROLLS Locals will tell you that Sawa-i-Lau Island is the heart of Yasawa and Fiji, despite its location on the far western edge of the Fiji Group. They believe it to be a hiding place of old Fijian mana or ‘magic’. Locals also believe you have never been to Yasawa if you have not set foot on Sawa-i-Lau and explored the limestone caves. The island - a distinctive limestone mass rising 1000 feet above sea level - is the object of Fijian legends and sacred Fijian mythology. As such, it is shrouded in mysticism and some alternating stories. Reportedly the resting place of Ulutini (the ancient ten-headed Fijian god), the Sawa-i-Lau caves crown the Yasawas at the northern end of the island group. Other ancient stories tell of a young Chief and his lover taking refuge in the limestone atrium after the woman’s family promised her to a rival Chief. With his beloved safely hidden behind the rocky curtain, the young chief would swim in and out of the cave with food
for her. For all our romantic readers, you’ll be happy to know the duo escaped and settled on another island, together forever. There are three different caves. The caves are easily accessible but once entered, one faces a challenge. When the tide is high, you must dive under a rocky curtain and swim through an underwater tunnel. However, the water is clear and at 24°C, only two degrees cooler than the Pacific Ocean outside. There are two chambers in the first cave. First, the tall atrium of the outer cave lit by a huge opening in the ceiling, then the 20m long inner sanctum which has a low ceiling. The second cave is Qara ni Bukete (Pregnancy Cave), named so because it refuses entry to any woman attempting to conceal her pregnancy. Finally there is Qara ni Kasivi (Spitting Cave). It is so called because when a person spits into the crystal clear pool there is a loud whooshing sound apparently created by a small opening that brings in air as the spit hits the water Whatever their story may be, it is certain that no trip to the Yasawa Group is complete until you have been to the caves of Sawa-i-Lau.
FIJITIME
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