The Folk-Tales of thc Kiwaï Paptians. 



13 



monious dance-march round and round in the house. The participants sing over and 

 over again certain songs in unison. The fragraentary texts put togethei' build a sort of 

 narrative. Some „verses" of such songs corne in araong the taies. 



Religion and Magic. The Kiwais do not believe in the existence of any Suprême 

 Being. They hâve no systematic belief in gods, offer no public sacrifices or prayers, 

 and hâve no priests, each one as a rule perforniing for hiniself the rites connected vvith 

 the supernatui-al matters. As long as an appeal to some being seems to be successful 

 it is continued, but if the contrary is proved 

 the person in question soon prefers to try 

 something fresh. What the natives believe in 

 is a world of supernatural beings, most of 

 which are mentioned in the legends. Very 

 marked ideas are entertained concerning the 

 soûl life after death, and although the departed 

 as a rule do not enter intu any connection 

 with the living such is however sometiraes the 

 case. In dreams especially ail kinds of beings 

 appear to différent people to give advice and 

 instruction; in fact dreams play a very im- 

 portant part in the mental life of the natives, 

 awakening ail kinds of ideas in tliem. 



At the mimia ceremony (cf. the taie 

 numbered 286) human figures made of wood 

 or stone are a chief feature, and similar effigies 

 are carved out on the posts which support the 

 roof of „the men"s house" inside (cf. no. 256). 



Both are made for cérémonial use, yet they can not properly be called idols. They 

 do not represent any special beings or personalities, and the natives themselves hâve 

 only a very vague conception of them. The effigies are, however, regarded with the 

 greatest vénération. 



Magical ideas and practices, on the other hand, abound in the lives of the 

 Papuans, vis., the utilising of supernatural mechanical power without appealing to the 

 aid of any personal being. Magical rites purporting to bring about success in hunting 

 and fishing, in gardening and weather-making, etc., vary, however, to a very great 

 extent in différent gioups of the people even within one and the same village. One 

 person bas been taught or bas discovered one procédure, another something eise, and the 

 instructions each one receives from his special dream-givers play hereby a great part. 



N:o 1. 



Human figure carved on a post in a 

 .men's house". 



