

III. SPIRITS OF THE DEAD (no. 62-101). 



A. TALES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TO ADIRI, THE LAND OF THE DEAD 



(no. 62 — 68; ef. Index, Spirits). 



62. A Mäo vvoman, lârebùro by name, once became pregnant from inhaling the smell 

 of a banana and gave birth to a boy vvho was called Wiobäri, or Amirabäri. She thought to 

 herself, „My God, proper father no make you, that's all I smell banana, make egg (germ) inside." 

 làrebûro was not like an ordinarj' woman, for she could not speak, but only made signs to her 

 boy by nodding her head to him. She used to sleep on the ashes of the fire-place, and once 

 when Wiobåri returned from the bush at night and saw her, he thought, „Oh, poor fellovv," and 

 lifted her to a better place. But she said, ,,0h, that my place, proper place." 



làrebûro warned her boy against going far into the bush lest something ill should befall 

 him there, „Vou no go long way," she said, „by and by devil-{spirit)-thing find you, devil-casso- 

 wary make you cranky." But Wiobari said, „Oh, gammon, I never been hear like that." 



A spirit in Wöibu, or Adiri, sent a cassowary to Mäo to fetch Wiob:iri. The bird came 

 running all the way from VVoibu and finally arrived at Mäo. Wiobäri had killed a pig the pre- 

 vious night, and leaving his mother to bake the meat he went to the garden. Close to the house 

 he encountered the cassowary sent from Wöibu. Wiobäri seized his bow and an arrow and 

 shot at the bird, but although it was not far away he missed it. The cassowary jumped, so that 

 the arrow passed underneath, and then fled with Wiobäri in pursuit. They ran on and on, till 

 at last the bird halted at the Sépe point, near Sümai. Wiobäri was ready for another shot and let 

 fly, but the bird again jumped so that the arrow missed its mark. The cassowary took to the 

 water and swam över to Düdi, and the man plunged in after him and swam in pursuit. At Dddi 

 they waded ashore through the mud, both out of breath, and Wiobäri shot at it once more and again 

 the cassowary jumped, and the arrow missed. The chase was continued at a run until they arrived 

 at Âimara-tàvatâta, and there the cassowary began to walk. Wiobäri came straight for the bird 

 and shot, but did not hit it. The run was resumed and went on as far as Wiraro where the 

 man managed to come up with the bird. The cassowary was standing still, and he drew his 

 bow, but once more the bird jumped and the arrow flew past. Again the two ran and after a 

 while crossed the Wi'raro-türi, the bird swimming in front and the man behind. At Augudomäbu, 

 the point near Kätatai village, Wfobäri took aim again, but the cassowary bent down dodging the 

 arrow. .Amid similar attempts on Wiobäri's part they passed many other places on their way 

 westward to Adi'ri: Old Mawäta, Pöhi, Oriömu river, Âberemûba, ürahapüo, Mâubo-érehe, Bi'natüri 

 N:o 1. 



