University of Iowa 1922 Fiji-New Zealand Expedition
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A Cultural Explanation for a Natural Formation

In the Penang valley, on the northeast coast of the Vitilevu island, there are several reddish color mounds of considerable size. The soil near one mound is unusually red. The Fijian story for this occurrence relates that an old chief once upon a time had two indolent sons who killed a favorite rooster of their father because its early crowing disturbed their sleep. Its blood stained the hill to this day. In order to escape their father’s wrath they put to sea in a hastily constructed boat which had a very tall mast. A storm overturned the boat and the long mast fell across the Rakiraki range. Notice the dip in the range in the photo below, made by the mast, just above Suicide Rock where the spirits of the brothers haunt the place every night! As a result, the Fijians stay away from this location.

Vitileu Island
(Wylie lantern slide collection)