Ongo Maʻafu/en

The both Maʻafu are a twin, Maʻafulele (running Maʻafu) the oldest, because he ran already at his birth and Maʻafutoka (laying Maʻafu) the youngest, as he lay just still after his birth. Later they went to the sky and became the both Magelhanic clouds, Maʻafulele is the larger and Maʻafutoka is the smaller, although some sources swap this assignment. They are claimed to be the sons of the chief of Vainī, Maʻafu (tuku-ʻi-ʻau-lahi), because of the likeliness of the name. But that is a popular ethymology. This name Maʻafu is associated with the Tahitian word māhu, which means the both nebulae, but also means a cloud or haze or spray, which latter meaning in Tongan has become ʻaʻafu.

The chief Maʻafuʻiʻaulahi bathed every evening in the Felefonu stream, rubbing himself with a piece of coconut husk, which he left behind when going home. Later a lizard came and sucked the husk. She got pregnant and bore a twin. When the two boys had grown big the lizard told them who their father was, and so they went to see him. They were very beautiful boys, but also very misschievous. They broke all kind of taboos, but their old father forgave them. When time progressed, however, they grew from naughty to wicked and killed other children in their rough games. People came to their chief to complain about his sons.

Old Maʻafu asked the boys to get some water for him from a faraway spring. He did not tell them that a giant wild duck lived near that spring, because he hoped that the bird would kill them, so that he would gently get rid of the boys. It did not work out. Both Maʻafu went, Maʻafulele overcame the duck and the they brought the water home, together with a nice gift for their old father, the duck. Next day Maʻafu sent the two boys to another faraway spring with the same order. This time a spring where he knew to live a giant triggerfish. Again his plot failed. Maʻafutoka overcame the fish, and the boys brought the water and a nice gift home. Chief Maʻafu had to thank them again, but now with anger. Then he explained what exactly was going on. The lads understood and announced they would leave. They would take the duck and the triggerfish with them, and go into the sky. There old Maʻafu could see them at any time by looking up, and the twin would be able to see him everytime when looking down. But they would not disturb him or his people anymore.

That is the origin of the both Magelhanic clouds, the Southern cross (Toloa) and the Coalsack (Humu).