Tepkakhola

Overview

Tepkakhola, a human-eating ogre, and the Ulaka pig destroy a population until only ten brothers and their sister are left. When the sister's foot overturns their escape canoe, the brothers leave her in a cave stocked with provisions and flee to Metema.

Two lizards pass through the sister's throat, and she later gives birth to strong twins. Tepkakhola demands fish from her at the Tutu spring and threatens her sons.

She thrusts a sago-palm midrib into his open mouth while singing, and it sticks in his throat. The twins then shoot him dead. Ulaka is a separate named antagonist in the same tale; the ogre is given no measured stature or extra heads.

Origins & earliest records

Taumako narrative in Florence Coombe, Islands of Enchantment (1911), Part II ch. IX, pp. 211–213. This is the earliest source inspected, an attestation and not an oral origin.

Records & interpretation

One narrative in a historical missionary compilation. Physical description of the ogre is limited to what the tale states.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Islands of Enchantment: many-sided Melanesia seen through many eyes

   Florence Coombe · 1911

   Selected bibliography; source narrative, Part II ch. IX pp. 211–213.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Historical book (digitised full text)Islands of Enchantment: many-sided Melanesia seen through many eyes (full OCR text)Research access: 2026-10-07
2. Catalogue recordIslands of Enchantment: many-sided Melanesia seen through many eyes (catalogue record)Research access: 2026-10-07

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.