174 Gunnar Landtman. 



the canoe from the stern, while Goboi speared fish at the bow. The latter thought to himself, 

 „That man he take sunt! What for I no been speak before, plenty fish been lose, canoe go one 

 side, fish go one (the other) side. I glad inside, that my friend, he hear my talk." Tvvo large 

 tusks were protruding from the mouth of the ghost, hut Goboi was not afraid: „I got spear," he 

 thought, „suppose him he fight me, I spear that devil (spirit). Suppose he stop good, he all right. 

 I vvatch what name (what) he do that time daylight." The ghost did not say anything, only 

 muttered, ,.Hm," whenever Göboi was spearing a fish. 



They went on as far as Küru, and there Göboi said, „You me (we) go back now," and 

 the spirit obediently turned the canoe round and began to pole it homeward. Dawn was faintly 

 appearing when they came near the village and burying ground where the spirit had first appeared. 

 Göboi had ceased to pole and was watching his companion över his Shoulder. He said, „You 

 hear my talk. How much fish you want him, you take him." The spirit only took two small 

 fish, and Göboi said, „No, more better you take him big fish." The spirit, however, did not want 

 any big fish, but jumped on shore with the two small ones and disappeared. When he had gone, 

 Goboi began to wail, thinking to himself, „My God, who belong devil (spirit) that? That friend 

 belong me? That father belong me? All time he foUow me good, I spear plenty fish." Göboi 

 kept on thinking, „People he stop good (are happy) along ground? What's way he stop? Sup- 

 pose I die, I stop all same? I no more? No good he been take small fish, more better we share 

 out straight (in equal parts)." Göboi was still wailing when he arrived home, and the people 

 asked him, „What name (why) you cry?" „You think that man he been stand up along my 

 canoe?" Göboi asked, „That no man, that devil (spirit). He jump along shore, leave him canoe 

 and stint, you look mark here. That's why I cry." (Nämai, Mawata). 



THE DEAD MAN WHO CAME TO SEE HIS FRIEND. 



73. The wogiiru ceremony (ef. Introduction to no. 279) was being performed at Mawäta, 

 and the people had brought home the pig, which plays a principal part in the rites. The „new 

 boys" (initiâtes) who were going to be taught the mogiirtt, were decorating themselves in the 

 men's house, and one man, Duäne, was standing at the door. 



The spirit of a dead man came Walking towards the house from the burying ground, and 

 the people thought at first, that he was one of themselves. Some men said, „Who he come? 

 Duäne stop here?" „Me here," Dudne answered. Again they wondered, „Who come there all 

 same Duane? Very long man he come." At last someone exclaimed, „I think devil (ghost) he 

 come." When Duäne saw the spirit, it suddenly Struck him that it must be his departed friend 

 Arüba, for before dying Arüba had said to him, „That time I die, suppose place he no good, I 

 come back. I let j'ou know, place he good, he no good. Suppose no got no ghost (no life 

 hereafter), I no come." Duane wanted to capture the spirit, and asked the others to remain quiet 

 while he prepared to rush out through one of the side doors. But all the people were pouring out 

 of the house to see what the commotion was about, and thus the spirit was frightened away. The 

 people formed two lines to Surround the stränge being, but just as they were about to capture 

 it, the spirit jumped away and landed out of reach o"" managed to get out through some opening 

 in the ranks. Some of the men were armed and pursued the spirit as far as the burying place, 



Tom. XLVII. 



