362 Gunnar Landtman. 



real canoës. Tvvo of the leading men took part in the game, Ken(3ra the son of VViiitamo, and 

 Ébogiibu the son of Dagüri. Ébogubu ran after his canoe, but it vvent too fast, and although he 

 even swam after it some distance he could not reach it. For a good while he stood gazing at 

 his canoe vvhich was carried farther and farther away by an easterly breeze past the large reef 

 till it was lost to view. On his return his father asked him, „Where canoe?" „Oh, father, from 

 my hand he lose him, too much run, I no can catch him." After a time Ébogubu forgot all 

 about his canoe, and the people began to play the kokådi or pari (a kind of hockey) by way of- 

 préparation for the tåera ceremony. 



The little canoe kept on sailing till it reached Yam Island. At that time there was no Tiido 

 Island, only a sandbank surrounded by breakers, and the people lived in Yam. A man of that 

 island called Ébogubu like the Däru man went one day to swim and saw the canoe. „What 

 name (what is) that? söko (nipa palm), any kind wood he come float? That shark? I think 

 dabåe (a wader with a long beak) sit down along wood." The thing headed straight for the 

 island against the tide like a living being. A cloud shut it out from sight for a while but soon 

 it came in view again looking like a white bird. „No, no," thought the man. „that other thing 

 he come. My god, that makåro (toy canoe) he come now." A wind-rose was spinning round 

 at the Stern of the canoe. Ébogiibu summoned the other people to come and see the thing. 

 They tried to catch it but the canoe evaded them and steered straight for Ébogubu who picked 

 it up. Holding the canoe in his hand Ébogubu pointed its bow in différent directions, but it 

 always turned towards Däru from where it had come, and gave Ébogûbu's hand a jerk in that 

 direction. „Oh, more better me go look!" exclairîied the people, „he want me go." 



The people made a log-canoe ready, which consisted of a solid trunk of a tree and was 

 provided with two outriggers, a little platform, and mat-sails. As they were sailing along a man 

 standing on the trunk held the toy canoe in his hand, and it indicated the direction in which 

 they should go. They saw the breakers at Tiido, and taking them to be some chihare (mythical 

 beings in the sea, ef. no. 131) kept away from them and headed straight for Dàru. They sailed 

 for a long time until they perceived the tv\o /lörionm screens in Dåru. „What name (what is) 

 that he float along water?" they thought, and the little canoe directed their course straight towards 

 the place. ,,0h, what name that two thing (the screens) he stand up?" they wondered, „people 

 he there full up." The women and children on the beach suddenly shouted, „Ah! father, who 

 belong canoe he come? Wüitamo, Dagüri, you come!-' and the people all came running to look. 

 The Yam islanders landad, and Ébogubu held the toy canoe in his hand. „Oh, that canoe I 

 been make him for Ébogubu," thought Dagüri, and Ébogubu said, „Oh, that canoe he lose from 

 my hand." „Who you?" the new-comers were asked by the Däru people, and the Yam island 

 Ébogubu replied, „Me Ébogubu, I come from Yam island." „Me Ébogubu, I been lose him that 

 canoe," said the Däru man. „Me Ébogubu, I been find him along my island." The visitors 

 were received by the Dàru people, and Ébogubu of Yam was entertained by his namesake 

 of Dåru. 



The new- corners were brought to the tdcra shrine, the screens of which were decorated 

 with small model canoës. „Oh, what name (what is) that thing?" they e.vclaimed, „look, all 

 small niakdro (toy canoës) alongside horiomu! My God, what name (what) them fellow make 

 him two thing stand up? Look, he got another room inside, another room outside!" The ^'am 



T.. 111. XIAIl. 



