The Folk-Tales of the Knvai Papuans. 199 



being inhabiting that spot, but in other cases this being is said to be a vvonian named Kâibâni 

 who lives underneath the stone. P^ormerly she used sometimes to be seen at the stone occupied 

 vvith making a belt. Near by thete are three vvater-holes, one for men, one for dogs (although 

 they drink from any of them), and one for the spirits of the dead when they pass the place on 

 their way to Adiri (et. no. 62). The spirits also dance round the stone and beat Bâsai's drum 

 by jumping on it. In former times vvhenever the Mawâta people came to Pdho, where they catch 

 crabs and fish, they used to perform certain rites at the stone. A verse in a sériai song says, 



„Piiso mdramu Kdibâni mura sébaiiba rébéta miiroro iii/a. — Mother helong Pâso (Pâho) 

 make him belt, that belt belong Kâibâni he no good." (Nâmai, Mawâta). 



WIOBADARA OF ABAURA WHO FORMS THE GROUND INTO HILLS. 



108. On Abaûra Island underneath the ground there lives a being called Wi'obâdara who 

 is akin to a man. At flrst the Island was a mère mud-bank. Once Wiobâdara captured a woman 

 and had connection vvith her on the beach, and in the act both sank deep into the ground, where 

 they still live. They are the orordronr (mythical local beings, cf. introduction to no. 102) of 

 Abaûra. At night they ha\'e often been seen wandering about in human shape, and in the 

 daytime they may appear as snakes. Wiobâdara and his wife push the ground up into hüls, and 

 on seeing a hill somewhat higher than the rest the people think that VVi'obâdara is there under- 

 neath it. Sometimes he transforms the ground where the women catch crabs, so that they cannot 

 find the holes of the animais. Then the women put down some food at the place and say (or 

 think), „Wiobâdara, kaikai belong you, no good you shut him crab. More better you give me 

 crab and fish." Wiobâdara will corne and take the food in the night, and the next morning the 

 people see that he has been there and may expect a good catch of crabs. (Gabia and 

 Kâku, Ipisia). 



BEGEREDUBU OF WABODA (cf. Index). 



109. Begerédubu is the hero and orordrora (mythical being) of Wâboda island, a man 

 and at the same time a spirit. He was with the Dibiri people when they bailed out the water 

 in their river in order to catch Mérave's drum, and when the dam burst he was carried along 

 by the torrent until he came to Wâboda (cf. no. 56 G). At first he lived in a large tree called 

 gägoro which is always connected with him, but when it feil down he built himself a house. 

 (Japia and Kâku, Ipisia). 



A. Gâgoro was a tree and also a man, his mother and l'ather vvere not real people but orordrora. 

 He wanteU a wife, but no girl would take him, as he was not a real man, and his parents tried in 

 vain to help him. Finaliy Gägoro went into the water and remained there, but sometimes at night he 

 used to come and see his parents. One day he caught hold of a gir! and carried her to his place in 

 the water, where he had a house; he also carried off many girls after her. (Tâmetdme, Ipisia). 



B. Begerédubu lived inside a gägoro tree on Wâboda island and is in a way identified with 

 the tree. One day when he was swimming, a large crab caught hold of his penis with its pincers; it 

 swelled out and lias remained very large ever since. (ef. no. 56 G; Japia, Ipisia). 



N:o 1. 



