26-1- Gunnar Landt.mak. 



off the bottom end close to the giound they attached a stick to it horizontaily to sit upon, and 

 used the creeper for a swing. In the village li\ed a sorceier calledOnii, and on seeing the childien 

 he determined t" go and practise iiis e\'il art upon thein. He decked hiniself with ieaves and 

 came suddenly and frightened the children. They shrieked out and dispersed in différent directions, 

 but one of them, Ebàge by name, was caught by the sorcerer. In the bush close by, a certain 

 man named Yanga was just ha\'ing connection with his wife, and some of the children ran right 

 över them. Yànga got up and called out, „What name (why) you come run?" and they replied, 

 „Me no savy you make that fashion. One puripuri-man been catch one boy." Yânga ran after 

 (Jnii, hit him with his axe and felled him dead. The boy Ebàge was brought home and began 

 to vomit from the effect of the sorcery practised upon him by Onii. 



After a while Ônii returned to life, as is often the case with sorcerers in such predica- 

 ments. He chewed some healing medicine, spat it över his body, and in a short time he had 

 recovered completely and went to swim. Some people saw him, and Yânga was blamed for not 

 having killed him properly. „I been kill him good," said Yânga, „one thing, fashion belong puri- 

 puri-man he come life again." <>nii took his basket and ran away to Türitüri. In the same even- 

 ing Ebâge died. 



A short time afterwards three boats came and anchored off Türitüri. Some South- 

 Sea men landed, and one of them shot Onii dead with a gun, and a few other men were also 

 shot. That was the fashion of the South -Sea islanders, v\'hen they wanted to steal the coconuts 

 and pigs of the people and frighten the ov\ners away first. The news came to Mavvâta, that 

 Ônii had been killed by the South-Sea men, and his fellow-villagers thought, „Oh, good job that; 

 all time he been make puripuri." Ebâge's parents went to Türitüri and asked the people there 

 not to bury Onii, for he had been a sorcerer, and accordingly his body was burnt in a large fîre. 

 (Gaméa, Mawâta). 



C. VARIOUS MYTHICAL BEINGS AND PHENOMENA 



(no. 185—193; cf. Index, Mythical Beings). 



THE BUSH BEING WHO ADOPTED A MAN 



185. A man was once carried off into a large tree by a bush being, who kept him there 

 and adopted him. His two wlves looked for him everywhere but in vain. One night when the heing 

 went out, the man made good his escape from the tree and returned to his house. He groped 

 his wa}' in the dark to his two wives, to whom he told his ad\entuie. (Ibi'a, Ipisia). 



THE INVULNERABLE CRAB. 



186. A certain Gebâro woman spent her time catching fish and crabs. One day she 

 was caught by a monstrous crab which crushed her hand with its pincers. She went home, 

 and the people fetched her husband. After some time they ail went and found the crab, but they 



Tom. XLVII. 



