The Folk-Taks of the Kiwai Papuans. 51 



A little bo\' escaped, and the old couple were killed. — The old man killed the boys by cutting 

 oft" their heads, one after another. 



HOW THE BOYS WERE CAPTURED BY AN OLD WOMAN AND ESCAPED. 



410. Some boys had annoyed an old woman, and .she captured them and shut them up 

 in her house. They contrived to escape and afterwards killed her. While she was dying a hole 

 burst open in her ehest, and she called out to them through the opening. 



THE BOY WHO WAS PURSUED BY AN OLD WOMAN. 



411, A boy shot a fish which belonged to an old woman, and she ran after him. They 

 ran for many days. In the end the boy's friends dug a pitfall in their way, the boy jumped 

 över it, hut the woman was caught and killed. 



THE BOY WHO ANNOYED A SPIRIT AND WAS KILLED. 



412. A spirit which livad in an empty hut was annoyed by a boy who used to throw 

 a stick into the hut whenever he went past. Finally the boy was caught and killed by the spirit. 

 The people found his body and were told in a dream what had become of him. 



XVIII. TALES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS (4i3-450) 



SNAKES WHO MAKE THEIR WAY INTO WOMEN. 



413. A woman was seen nude by a snake, and in the night it came and passed into 

 her body. She showed the symptoms of pregnancy, and at the time of her delivery the people 

 discovered the snake. After .nany attempts the\- managed to draw it out, and the woman died. 

 — A boy swallowed a snake while drinking water, and it grew to a large size in his body. 



MAIGIDUBU, THE SNAKE-MAN WHO PROTECTS WOMEN. 



414. A woman bore a child in a tree and was brought down by the snake Alåigidiibu 

 who looked after her and kept her in his abode. Her husband held a dance to which he invited 

 many people. Mâigidùbu and the woman came with the rest. The man took back his wife, but 

 as he neglected to give payment to Mâigidùbu the latter killed him. — The woman's husband 

 came to Mäigidübu's abode and was taught the ,.medicines" which the différent totem groups of 

 the people should use when planting their gardens. 

 N:o 1. 



