The Folk-Tales of Ihc Khvai Papnans. 135 



dry along sun." Iku instantly withdrew the fire into his hand, so that it could not he seen. He 

 said, „I got no fire, vvho been teil you I got fire?" hut they maintained, „Me two he savy." Näga, 

 who once before had been carried över to Mûri by the havvk and had seen the fire, told Iku, 

 „I been see you first time before I speak along påna (friend)." îku then exclaimed scornfuUy, „You 

 fellow along all Island, all place, you fellow no proper man, I think you fellow devil (spirits) ! 

 You no got fire, cold kaikai you eat all time. I man, I got fire, I show you too !" He opened 

 his hand: „Look, fire he come out now!" Näga ran and vvrenched the fire from his hand, and 

 tku tried in vain to stop him: „No, you no take that fire, that belong me!" He ran after Näga, 

 „Oh," he cried, „give back my fire!" Näga and VVäiati quickly betook themselves to the hawk, 

 and the bird flew avvay with them. Iku had to give up the pursuit: „Oh, no more; two fellow 

 he go along pigeon." He returned to his place, bitterly lamenting his loss, and in order to main- 

 ain the fire he had just kindled, now that the source of it was gone, he collected a great quan- 

 ity of wood. The place in his hand, where the fire had been. closed up. 



Näga and Waiati returned to Nägir where they lighted a big fire, and Wdiati said, „You 

 look out that fire good, by and by he out — härd vvork find him other one." Taking Iku's fire 

 with him he proceeded to Mäbuiag where his people were drying fish in the sun. Wdiati lighted 

 a fire, and his wife exclaimed at the sight of it, „What name (what is) that?" „That's fire belong 

 kaikai," Waiati answered, „you go cook kaikai here." A big flame shot up, and the people were 

 terrified, „Oh, what name that thing?" But Waiati reassured them saying, „You wait, I cook him 

 fish." When the fish was cooked he gave them some, and they ate, exclaiming, „Oh, father, 

 that good fashion that! You me all time been make him fish dry, take long time." 



Another lime Näga and Wdiati went to Yam Island carried by the hawk. Waiati soon 

 returned to Måbuiag but Nàga settled down in Yam and also brought his family över there. He 

 was the first man to live in that Island. 



iku went över to Davdne and gave fire to Kogéa, and also to Meréva in Sdibai. It is 

 from Säibai that the knowledge of fire has spread to New Guinea. Iku returned to Mûri. 



In. this tale a version of the dance before the beautiful girl P()nip()ni is inserted (ef. no. 

 457 B). (Gaméa, Mavvdta). 



NAGA, WAKEA, AND SIGAI (no. 53—54). 



53. Wakéa, a man of the Gövo tribe, lived at Biiravo, one of the two villages of Md- 

 singdra on a tributarj' of the Bi'natüri river. One day he said to his people, „You fellow stop, I 

 go Yam Island see Ndga." He fiew över the sea in the shape of a hornbill i) carrying with him 

 various kinds of food in a basket, and on arriving at Yam resumed his human form. Ndga said, 

 „Påna (friend), you come," and Wakéa answered, „Fäna I think about you all time, I come." 

 Ndga spread out a mat, and while they were sitting together he asked his friend, „Whart name 

 (what) you me do here?" „I think," Wakéa answered, „more better you me make one Island." 

 „What Island you make him?" „You me make him Tüdu" (also Tütu or Tûdo, Warrior Island). 



') The bushmen inland from Mawata call the hornbill 7vaiea. 

 N:o 1. 



