Mahkontowe

spirit · Micronesia · Pacific

Mahkontowe is the Sleeping Lady of Kosraean pihlengfong (night stories), daughter of a whale called the Loat. In the founding episode, the Tokosra's men clubbed her whale mother at Lelu, and Mahkontowe brought the whale back to life with a remaining piece and a taro leaf of salt water; when the whale was drawn back a final time, its body formed Lelu Island, which keeps the island's shape to this day. Grieving, Mahkontowe went into the mountains and fell asleep, and her body now forms the mountain chain that runs across Kosrae.

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