202 Gunnar Landtman. 



the night he saw the mantagårena moving about in its human form, and being afraid he shot an 

 arrow at the being. The next morning he found the same arrow sticlving through the body of 

 a snake, and that was the mantagårena. (Gaméa, Mawäta). 



A. The mythical being inhabiting Mårukära is an étengena (mythical being, ef. Introduction to no. 

 102) named Asäi. He cannot be seen in the day but speaks to certain people in dreams, although even 

 then they do not see liim. (Säle, Mawåta). 



THE MONSTROUS CRAB NEAR AIBINIO. 



114. Near Aibinio there used to be another island called Mérevvöiwo. Long ago the 

 Wiörubi people once went there to catch crabs. A man called Dorùbi, vvho was wading in the 

 mud, found the tracks of an enormous crab which he foUowed to a lagoon. On seeing the beast 

 he called the other people. One of the men tried to catch the crab, which remained motionless, 

 and as it was too heavy for him, the others went to help him. Suddenly the crab opened one 

 of its nippers, clutched the hands of the people, and dragged them all into the lagoon. The monster 

 then caused the water to swirl round and round, washing away the island, while at the same time 

 a heavy sea came and swept right över it, so that only a whirlpool indicated the place where 

 the island had been. 



The Wiorubi people, who saw that the island had disappeared, went to the place, but 

 did not dåre to go close up to it. Ever since at high water there is "a strong eddy in the sea at the 

 same spot, which is caused by the crab. (Gaméa, Mawdta). 



A. The crab livad on Aibinio island. The Wiorubi people came lo catch the monster but 

 were killed by it. The crab then went into the water where it still remains, causing a strong Whirl- 

 pool in the sea like that of the obtsare (mythical beings, ef. no 131). It is not a real crab but an 

 orordrora (mysterious being; Tâmetâme, Mawdta). 



ERUMIA OF MAWATA (ef Index). 



115. Erumia is an enormous, wonderful jelly-fish which lives on the reef called Tére- 

 mûba-mâdja, off the Gésovamiiba point near Mav\âta. She is the mother of all the ordinary jelly- 

 fish (édeéde), which are abundant on that reef. Many men have seen Erumia, and several have been 

 stung by her („all same hot water he burn"). She can even sting a man to death. If a man 

 sees some long slimy strings stretching towards him in the water as if trying to entangle him, 

 he knows that they belong to Erumia and flees for his life. Erumia is the patron of all the lish. 

 The people do not swim at the Téremùba reef for fear of her. She appears to certain men in 

 dreams and gives them some „lucky thing" which helps them to catch plenty of fish. 



. The Mawåta people are associated by their neighbours with Erumia, which is regarded as 

 their ororårora (local mythical being, ef. Introduction to no. 102). When, for instance, they visit 

 some other place, they are sometimes received with the words, „Erumia pQople he come." A 

 sériai song describing a journey from Adiri, the country of the dead (ef. no. 62), gives some 



Tom. XLVIl. 



