332 Gunnar Landtman. 



The next morning Méuri and Dave called all the men to come to the bush. There they 

 pegged out the sites of everybody's garden vvith sticks. At each garden thus marked they said 

 to the ovvner, „This belong you, you make garden. You plant coconut, sago, banana, any kaikai 

 belong you me (us)." 



Méuri always kept the tire-stick which Kapia had brought him. The people lived there 

 together, and as their children grew up, the village became larger and larger. The present inhabit- 

 ants of läsa are their descendants. (Kâku, Ipisi'a). 



A. The same narrator also gave the loUowing variant. Méuri, vvho had no tire, at first lived 

 aione in Kiwai, and after a time was joined by some Manävete people. Their tire had gone out, and 

 they sent Kapi'a to get them some from Manävete. After a while Kapia returned, carrying a fire-stick 

 in his beak. But the fire burnt the corners of his mouth, so Kapia dropped the stick and cried out, 

 „/rf, /rf,-/rf.'" The bird then flew avvay, but the people picked up the brand and lighted a Are on 

 which they cooked food for Méuri and theniselves. Méuri was afraid of the fire and fainted on tasting 

 the food, but after a time he liked it. (Kâku, Ipisia). 



B. A third variant by the same narrator. A man named Rarâni lived in Kiwai exactly like 

 Méuri in the first version. As he had no tire, Kapia who came tlying from Manävete one day brtiught 

 him a fire-stick. Baräni was afraid of the fire, but Kapia cooked some fish for him and persuaded 

 him to eat in spite of his remonstrances. On eating the strong food Baräni first feil down in a swoon 

 but after a time learnt to like it. Kapia flew back to Manävete leaving the fire-stick with Baräni. 

 (Kâku, Ipisia). 



C. Méuri, who had no fire, used to dry fish in the sun by placing it on a large tree, which 

 was lying on the beach. Kapia came flying trorn Manävete with a fire-stick in his beak, and taught 

 Méuri how to kindle a fire and cook. He stayed some time with Méuri in the shape of a man, but 

 later on resumed the form of a bird and flew back to Manävete. (Obûro, läsa). 



D. Méuri lived in a hole in the ground at lâsamtiba and used to dry fish by putting it on 

 a stranded nipa-palm. His mouth had a bad smell from all the raw fish he had eaten. Kapia brought 

 him fire from Manävete. (Manu, Ipisia). 



E. Like version D. Kapia's cry was, „la-ha, ia-ha,"' and the fire had burnt a red spot at 

 each side of his beak. Méuri first fainted frotn the effect of the fire, but soon learnt to use it and to 

 eat cooked food, following Kapia's example. Kapia flew away, but left the fire with Méuri for the 

 use of ail the Kiwai people. (Bogéra, Ipisia). 



F Méuri, who lived alone in Dibiri, had no fire and used to dry fish on a tree. One day 

 some people came and settled down in the same place, and they gave him a girl in marriage. She 

 offered to prépare his meal, and he asked her to dry some fish in the sun. But she did not approve 

 of that kind of cooking, which left the food very hard, and went to her own people to fetch fire. 

 When Méuri returned from fishing she had lighted a big fire and was cooking his meal. Il took Méuri 

 a long while to get used to the fire and smoke and to eat cooked fish, and he even fainted on first 

 tasting the new food. Méuri, ignorant of everything, was also taught by his wife to hâve connection 

 with her. (Tämetäme, Ipisia). 



Tom. XLVIJ. 



