The Folk-Tales oj the Khvai Papuans. 153 



gether!" Such a boy was Küiamo. He tore about without even minding the fires, capsized cooking 

 Shells, made some fish fall into the ashes, and caused the flame to blow aside over the people 

 and burn them. 



Kûiamo went up to his mother, Tâmagâni, vvho was making a mat, and not looking 

 where he was going kicked away the strip of leaf which she held with her great toe, and she 

 scolded him („all people belong Màbuiag he swear him, mother he swear hini too"). In a parallel 

 version by the same narrator it is stated that his mother and the other people were not really 

 angry with him, whereas Küiamo himself „catch him proper wild, he shame". 



The next morning the children again began to play, and as before Küiamo caused trouble 

 among them, fighting the boys and girls till blood was shed. All the grown up people 

 scolded him. 



When Küiamo grevv older he gave up playing. Once again he stumbled over his mother's 

 work, tearing the plait out of her hand, and received a scolding. He then went into the bush, 

 made a kiibai, throwing stick, and hàma, spear, and decorated himself with fringes of split fcoco- 

 nut leaves, covering his face as well; he also tried on all his ornaments of war, in préparation 

 for the deed which he contemplated. He thought, „Poor mother, to-morrow you no more", and 

 felt sorry for her and the people he meant to kill. Leaving all his things in the bush, he came 

 out, and his mother said, „Âdikuiamo, what's the matter you stop quiet.?-' Küiamo answered, 

 „Mother, I stop, no good I everytime I play." 



All the people got up in the morning, some went to their gardens and some to catch 

 fish, some women looked after their children and others made mats. Küiamo fought all the 

 children, throwing them about and whipping them, till both boys and girls were bleeding. He 

 ran into the midst of the people, and all rated him, his mother too, „What name (why) that boy 

 all time make trouble? Head belong him he stone, he no can listen, ear belong him no got no 

 hole." He dränk some water and threvv the rest at his mother, and she scolded him, „Hov\' many 

 time I learn him Küiamo, he no listen at all, no got eye, no got ear, he proper cranky." 



Küiamo ran into the bush where he had left his weapons and attire. He put on all his 

 ornaments, painted himself red, white and black, and holding his throwing stick assumed a threaten- 

 ing attitude. „Wild he corne now." He said, „I sorry mother, all Mäbuiag people no more 

 now. My name Küiamo, Adikuiamo." 



When he came out of the bush, the people did not recognize him because of the leaves 

 which covered his face, and they called out, „Who you.?'' „That's me, Küiamo, Adikuiamo. " 

 He first speared his mother and drawing the weapon from her body danced and sang, 



„Kéda bdua kéda biitia kétia bäua ngdi Kûiamo, Adikuiamo. — All same big sea 1 come 

 now, I Küiamo, Adikuiamo." 



He next speared his sister, and mad with rage killed men, women, and children alike, crying 

 out, „All time you people swear me, you think that (I) small boy!" He eut off his mother's 

 head with his beheading knife and made a wreath of fringed coconut leaves round it, thinking, 

 „By and by all meat, stink go avvay ; that time I make him out what head belong mother." 

 Afterwards he eut off all the other heads and arranged them in rings face upwards round that 

 of his mother. When he had finished, he returned to the bush and took off the leaves which 

 covered his face. 

 N:o 1. 20 



