The Folk-Taks of Ihe Kuuai Papuans. 131 



D. Dibiri-Sagäru, desiring to destroy Abére's daughler (there seems to have been only one), 

 whom Mescde had brought with him from Wdboda, dressed herself in male war-attire and went to a 

 village in Dibiri, where she asked the people to kill the girl. The men there had connection with her 

 in payment for the deed. Mescde, on finding his beheading knife tied to a stick close to the dead 

 body, knew that Dibiri-Sagaru was responsible. The body, from which the head had been eut off, 

 turned into a drum, and Meséde on finding it fastened a skin över the tympanic end of it. This ver- 

 sion, like the preceding one, is continued in the tala about Mérave and Ddpe (of. no. 56 A). (Tom, 

 Mawata). 



E. Meséde, living in Puriitu, heard the sound of voices from Waboda where Abcres's daughters 

 were playing. He went thiiher, and Abcre thought that she pleased him, but in the night he ran away 

 with all the girls. Pursued by Abcre to Puriitu, Mescde and the girls hid themselves in a large tree. 

 Abcre called to them, but none of them wanted to come out. They urged each other on, and at last 

 the girls emerged one after another, Meséde keeping behind them. But Abére was no longer angry. 

 She went back to Wäboda, where she lived with a small girl who had remained there, and Meséde 

 kept the others. (Sakiima, Ipisia). 



F. Meséde went from Dibiri to Puriitu where Abére lived. He found out that she had a 

 number of daughters and carried them off to his own place. His wife Damera-Sagåru beat the girls, 

 but after a while they made friends and lived together. (Üudba, Oromosapüa). 



MESÉDE, KOGEA (ef. Index) AND NUGU (no. 48—50). 



48. Meséde left Bdru with his four girls and wanted to go to Dämere-mijba. But Abére 

 summoned a severe rain-storm, and Meséde's canoe drifted out on the open sea to Mädja Pakäuro 

 (Branible Quay), and from there it was carried to More (Murray Island). The four girls held on 

 to Meséde all the time. They came to Puriima (Coconut Island), and thence to Wärabére (Three 

 Sisters), Yani Island, Bârasâsi (Long Island), Mukâra (Cap Island), and Gehâru (Two Brothers), 

 but they did not land anywhere, the tide just carried them along perpetually. At last they 

 arrived at Davdne and were stranded. 



They were found by Kogéa who thought to himself, „Oh, poor brolher he come now, I 

 think he come see me." He took them on shore and brought them into his house. „What'sway 

 you come?" he asked them, and Meséde explained, „I no get (did not reach) my proper place, I 

 walk about (travel) all över; tide, wind, sea take me go outside, water float me, I fast here." 

 Kogéa prepared food for them, and after the meal they went to sleep. 



Meséde vvished to return to his place, and they went to the bush to provide him with 

 food. Kogéa had no wife, and seeing Meséde's girls thought to himself, „Oh, brother, more better 

 you give me one wife !" He went first to the bush, and Meséde sent two of his girls with him, 

 telling them, „You two go first, 1 come behind." When Kogéa saw the two women following 

 him, he thought, „Oh, all same two wife belong me he come behind." The two women brought 

 him the taro and sweet potatoes which they were collecting, and he felt very pleased. Some 

 food was cooked and they all ate. Meséde said to the two women, „You go what place Kogéa 

 he stop," for he wanted to give them to him, but did not speak out. When he was ready to 



N:o 1. 



