Tlic Fo/k-Ta/cs of llic Kiwai Papiunis. 35 



sensation among the people by its size. The appearance of such a monster forebodes some- 

 thing bad. 



193. The Trec luhicli serves as an Omen. On the bank of a creek in Kfwai there grovvs 

 a tree which serves as an omen when some of the people are away in war or on a journey. 



V. COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE (194-214) 



CHANCE iVlEETINGS OF BOYS AND GIRLS AND THEIR MARRIAGE. 



194. Several Kiwai boys Hew in a trumpet-shell to Dudi where a number of girls lived 

 by themselves. The shell became a bird and perched in a tree, and every night one boy climbed 

 down and found his way to one of the girls, till all of them were married. 



195. Two brothers lived by themselves, and the elder of them used at times to deck 

 himself with leaves and dance. The leaves were afterwards found by some girls who put them 

 inside their petticoats, and this caused them to become pregnant. When the children were born 

 they brought them to the two brothers who married the girls. 



196. A number of boys li\ed in Böigu and a number of girls in Büdji. The latter used 

 to come över to B(')igu by climbing a bamboo tree which bent över with them till it reached the 

 Island. At length they were caught as the boys managed to eut off the bamboo tree, and they 

 were all married. 



197. The boys lived at Bibi and the girls not far off. At night the latter used to come 

 and dance in the boys' gardens, trampling down the crop. The eldest boy Oea was set to watch and 

 saw the girls whose number matched that of the boys. The next night he sent the other boys 

 to catch the girls, which they did, dividing the girls betvveen them, but the youngest brother, who 

 should have kept the youngest girl, took instead the eldest. <>ea was angry and took revenge by 

 bringing över the Tüdu islanders to attack his brothers at Bibi. 



198. Six brothers li\'ed together, and in their absence six girls used to come into their 

 house and dance. The boys found them out, and in the end captured them, after v\hich they 

 all married. 



199. Four brothers lived together, and the eldest of them found four girls in the bush. 

 He planned that he and his brothers should marry them, and he should take the eldest girl. 

 However he wanted to keep the youngest girl as well, so he sent his youngest brother to li\'e by 

 himself in a hut in the bush. After certain vicissitudes the youngest boy and girl were however 

 united. 



200. A number ot boys ran away from home because they were given too little food by 

 their parents. They came to a house in which an old woman lived with a number of daughters 

 whom they married. A long time passed, and when the boys found that their parents were still 

 alive they moved to their old home with their familles. 



201. Ämurabäri who suffered from bad sores lived by himself in a hut, and his sons (or 

 brothers) in another house. The youngest was the only one of them who pitied him and gave 

 him food. By magical manipulation Amurabåri summoned a number ot buhére-buhcre (mythical 

 N-.o 1. 



