200 Gunnar Landtman. 



GIMINI SANDBANK AND ITS GUARDIANS (no. 110—112). 

 GUBO AND MOISO OF GIMINI. 



1 10. Long ago the Gimini sandbank (at thàt time a vvooded Island) belonged to two 

 brothers of Mawâta, named Giibo and Mfjiso, who have been regarded ever since as the guardians 

 of Gimini. Formerly when the people vvent to the sandbank to catch turtle, those who reckoned 

 themselves to be Möiso's descendants, used to put down for him on a mat an offering of two 

 presents of tood and two water-bottles, it is said because Moiso had two wives; while those 

 belonging to Gübo's side put down one present of food and one water-hottle, as Gübo had only 

 one wife. As they did so, they said, „Belong you that present, you show me turtle egg." When 

 the greater part of Gimini was vvashed away, the turtles ceased to lay there. (Nåmai, Mawåta). 



HOW MOISO WAS CARRIED TO ADIRI (OR MABUIAG) BY A FISH. 



111. Gübo and Moiso, who lived at Gimini sandbank, occupied themselves with spearing 

 fish, turtle, and dugong. Möiso, the younger brother, every time brought his catch to Giibo, 

 asking him which fish were edible and which not (abbrev.). ^ The two brothers had a garden 

 at Mawâta and frequently went över there. Once while Gübo was at Mawâta Môiso speared a 

 large fish called gdigai. The point of the spear bent and stuck in the body of the fish, and 

 Möiso who held on to the handle was dragged out to sea. The wounded fish swam away with 

 him farther and farther, past the Islands of Sâibai and B(3igu, and finaliy stranded at Adiri (ef. 

 no. 62). The girls there came to the beach to smear their hair with ashes and water. At flrst 

 they thought that a log of wood was lying there, but when they came near they found that it 

 was a man. „Who you name?" they asked him, and he said, „My name Moiso." The girls 

 brought him to their house and sent word to the other spirit-people that a stranger had arrived. 

 The men came running and at first wanted to kill M(')iso, but after a while they made friends 

 with him and one man after another said to him, „You my brother," or, „You my boy." In the 

 morning the girls were told to stand in a linc, and Moiso chose two of them for his wives. In the 

 course of time they bore him two children. Moiso remained in Adfri and worked with his wives 

 in a garden. Once when he was washing his children on the beach, he looked out över the 

 sea and felt sad at the thought of his own home which was far away. When his children asked 

 him, „What name you cry?" he said, „I sorry my brother and my place. 1 no belong here, 

 fish he take me come here." ii And the children wept too. When the people heard why Möiso 

 and the children were crying, they said, „You no stop here altogether, by and by you go back." 

 The next morning they provided Möiso with a canoe and he returned to Gimini and carried the 

 children on shore. Gübo was so surprised to see him that he fainted. '^ The two brothers 

 remained together in GimiAi. (Gibüma, Mawâta). 



A. Môiso and Gübo lived on Gimini. One day while spearing fish Gübo was carried away 

 to Mabuiag by a large gàigai fish, and there he was taken care of by a girl who brought him to the 

 village. He married her and another woman as well, they bore him two children, and he remained 



Tom. XLVU. 



