Located a few steps from the old Busurata Bible School in central Kwara’ae, Malaita, is Tarosi water source.
I heard of this source in the 1990s on radio through a song that was composed about this unique stream.
Wednesday last week during a trip to the area, I set foot on the source and tasted it.
True to its name, Tarosi is undoubtedly one of nature’s best products.
It came out from white gravel stones that made it so cool even in the hottest weather.
John Sala was a villager from the area.
He told me Tarosi water source was a very unique stream that never turns muddy even during the heaviest rain.
“People from Lalita village and surround communities always love to come here to collect their drinking water from this source,” Sala said.
“We have many water sources around here, but we prefer collecting our water from Tarosi because it has a different and satisfying taste,” he added.
In the 1990s, local band Bush Rangers composed a song titled “Huil Hanoa I Lalita’ that had Tarosi in its lyrics.
It was a much loved song by those who speak the Kwara’ae language.
Sala said the song was composted by a man from the area.
The people of Lalita and surrounding communities were truly blessed to have a water source of this quality.
It was one of the best few water sources one could find anywhere in the country.
It was cool and refreshing.
Kids I met told me there’s no water source to go to than Tarosi.
“It’s cool here and the source was different from others. We not only come here to collect our drinking water, but also to bath in the cool of this stream.
To protect the quality of the source, no one is allowed to cut trees within the vicinity of the source.
No houses were also allowed to be built within the proximity of the source.
Sala said that everyone there have favour the source and will do everything to protect it.
“This is God’s blessing to our people,” he said.
“We have to look after and care for it. The source has been maintaining its strength and quality all these years so we have to keep it that way.
“I know that other parts of the country and out there in the world have water quality issues.
“Here at Lalita, we are truly blessed with this fine water source.
“In fact Malaita was blessed by many rivers and streams. We just have to look after and care for them so that we have quality drinking water at our disposal.”
By LESLEY SANGA
