The Folk-Tales of the Kiwai Papuans. 167 



The Mäo people heard the stränge sound in the night and said, „Oh, what kind noise 

 that?" Wiobäri alighted with his things and helped his companions down, and when he spät the 

 same „medicine" at the bamboos, they contracted and returned to Adiri. The people there rolled 

 them up in mats and hid them. VVi'obâri lootced at his unsighthy mother, who was sleeping on 

 the ashes: „Poor mother," he thought, „all same cassowary, all same rat, sl<in belong mother, 

 face all same." lârebûro woke up and was delighted to see her son and his wives and children. 

 She could not speak but gesticulated with her hands in token of her joy. VVi'obari said, „Mother, 

 I foUovv cassowary, he make me cranky, I come along devil-place." 



The Mdo people are the descendants of Wi'obâri and his wives from Adfri. (Nämai, 

 Mawata). 



A. At Mäo there lived a woman called lare, who was like a pig, with two förelags and two 

 hind-legs. She took part in the dance of the people by sitting on the ground and moving her forelegs. 

 Once she became pregnant from smelling at a banana and gave birth to a boy named Wiobäri. He 

 was never suckled by his mother, but was able to stand and walk at once. Idre gave him a bow and 

 arrows but warned him against going far away from the house. The boy killed raany pigs for his 

 mother, and she felt happy and danced with her forelegs. She had no hands and ate by picking up 

 her food with her mouth. Once Wiobäri met a cassowary in the bush and shot it but did not kill it. 

 (Samäri, Mawäta). 



63. Gaméa, who was an old man, had been told this story by his father. 



Once a Mawäta man named Äsdi, who had died, returned to life and told his fellow 

 villagers about Adiri. A newij- deceased person arrives at Adfri in a canoe and is welcomed by the 

 spirit of his father or of some friend who has died before. The spirit is waiting on the beach 

 and bids the new-comer, „You come, leave him canoe." A mat is spread out for him on the 

 beach, on which he sits down. The other spirits dance for him in order to make him „cranky", 

 so that he shall not want to go back, some beat their drums, some sing, and some dance. As 

 he watched the dancers Âsài thought to himself, „This good place, more better I stop here all 

 time." His father said to him, „I got master, name Dfrivo (ef. no. 43), suppose he sing out 

 (summons us), you me (vve) go inside house." After a whihe DiVivo called them, but Âsâi was 

 afraid and did not want to go into the house. His father, however, persuaded him, saying, ,0h, 

 you come inside," and they went. hX. the door two heavy spårs were standing, and Sfdo, 

 who was in the house, told them to enter between them. They sprang in, and the two 

 spårs closed behind them with a clack (ef. no. 64). At the sound Àsâi turned round, and he 

 thought, „Oh, my home he finish, I no can go back!" In the house was a young girl with round 

 breasts, and Sido bade Âsâi cohabit with her, saying, „Belong you now, woman belong you." 

 If a man foUow Sido's command, he loses his reason, forgets his old home, and remains in 

 Adfri for ever. Äsdi, however, on entering the house was so impressed by its splendour that he 

 did not heed Sido's direction. Instead of looking at the girl he was observing the place („good 

 (beautiful), fine place, all he light, good people, good woman"). When .Sfdo saw that 

 Asâi neglected the girl, he said, „You no look that girl, more better I take you hack." He took 

 the man to the door, and the two spårs lifted themselves up. Asâi was not given any canoe, 

 but Sfdo kicked him from behind, and he flew right up in the air and landed at his own place 

 N:o 1. 



