Lures used throughout the Pacific to catch octopus resemble a rat. In Tonga we first heard the old story of the octopus and the rat. Here is one version:
A rat stranded on a floating coconut offshore got colder, wetter and more badly frightened as the waves grew higher. He began to shiver and squeak loudly with terror, believing he was soon to be drowned. A passing octopus stuck his head out of the water. "What troubles you rat?" he asked. "You're making a great noise." The rat told him. The friendly octopus paddled himself alongside the coconut shell. "Jump on to my head," he said kindly. "I'll take you back to the shore." The rat jumped. No sooner had the octopus reached land than the rat leapt ashore without a word and began to run swiftly towards the nearest vegetation. "Aren't you going to say Thank You?" called the octopus, a little angered by such bad manners. "Wouldn't do any good," replied the rat, still running fast. "Just wait till you see what I've done on your head." And so from that day to this, whenever the rat ventures into trees close to the lagoon, the octopus comes after him with great fury.