77«? Folk-Tales of the Knvai Papuans. 161 



dögs. They ran about. playing and shovving their teeth like real dogs, and vvhen the people 

 went to catch fish, made off for Sésere's place. Sésere savv through them because their eyes did 

 not lock like those of a dog, and as they lay down like dogs, threw them some of the intestines 

 of a dugong, which they devoured. When he looked away, they leaped up, seized tvvo large 

 pièces of méat, and ran off before he had time to stop them. They ran and ran till they reached 

 the shrine, where they resumed their human shape. They ate some of the méat and some they 

 kept for future use, and vvhen their vvives complained that they did not bring any fish they alleged 

 that they had been ill. 



The next night Sésere speared six dugong, some of which he threw away, because they 

 were too lean, and the rest he eut up in the morning. Again the two men in the shape of dogs 

 came and stole méat. Sésere, uncertain as to what to do, dug up the skulls of his parents and slept 

 close to them in order that the spirits should come once more and give him their advice, and the 

 parents informed him that the two bad men were again coming to him the next day. Sésere 

 provided himself with a heavy stick which he kept close to him, waiting for the dogs to come. 

 The two thieves asked another man, a kukûra who was full of sores (the word is also used to designate a 

 cripple), to join them, and ail three transformed themselves into dogs and went to steal méat 

 from Sésere. The two men lay down near Sésere, but their companion, who was afraid, kept 

 at a distance. When the two dogs rushed up to snatch some méat, Sésere, ready for them, killed 

 first one and then the other with his stick. The third man ran away, and Sésere shouted after 

 him, „Suppose you dog — all right ; suppose you man inside that skin, you tell him people, 

 ,Sésere been kill him two man, all time he come humbug. What man he want pay back, he 

 come!'" Sésere ripped open the dogs with his bamboo knife and eut off the heads of the 

 two men inside. 



The fugitive, having resumed his human form, went and told the people, „Oh, Sésere 

 been kill him two fellow, ail time two fellew he come humbug." „AU right," the friends of the 

 two men answered, „Sésere he no big man, to-morrow me go, me kill him." They put on their 

 war accoutrements, some painted their faces black, some red, and others grey with mud. Sésere's 

 two sisters came to him carrying their babies, and asked him where their husbands were. „Him 

 there," Sésere said, „head and body. Two fellow he think me no man, humbug all time — I 

 kill him." The women wept over their husbands though they were sorry for their brother as 

 well. „To-morrow," they said, „I think you no more life, too many people, he come kill you." 

 But Sésere was not afraid. „Never mind he come kill me," he .said, „I want that thing." 



At sundown the people beat their drums. A\\ their weapons were ready, their stone clubs 

 and bäiciam-ibuniiro (sticks with shark's teeth fixed on); „To-morrow," the men said, „1 put him 

 along face belong Sésere." 



Sésere put back the harpoon-handle and rope v\'here he had found them. He killed a 

 white heron with his spear and throwing stick (kiiliai) and made a head-dre.ss {döri) of the 

 feathers, also adorning himself with fringed leaves and other ornaments. When the Gömu men 

 came, he hid himself by the refuse heap, where he had thrown the two dead bodies and some 

 of the dugong, the whole place being full of flies and worms. *^ The enemy attacked him from 

 three sides, some from their canoës, others from the hush, and others again from the beach. 

 Sésere was not afraid, for he had been taught by his dead parents how to fight and how to 

 N:o 1. 21 



