The Folk-Tdlcs of the Kiivai Papuans. 383 



search, and the mutilated bodj' of one of the men was found and cariied home. Another body 

 was discovered the following day, but the third man was never seen again. After the mourning 

 feast had been held two of the vvidows were married to the tvvo men who had found the bodies 

 of their dead husbands. Many men wanted the third wciman, but she said, „No, I no want, I 

 no been find man belong me." She worked by herseif in her garden, nnd many people pitied 

 her saying, „I very sorry you, no good you make vvork one man (alone). You no man, you 

 woman, more better you marry." She did not want to marry, as the body of har previous husband 

 had not been found. There was even a quarrel among the people who wanted to compel her 

 to marry: „What's the matter you no marry.? More better you marry, you good (good-looking) 

 girl, no good you stop single woman." As a matter of fact she was fond of a certain m.an, and 

 under the pressure of the people she once asked him to stay with her and help her to work. 

 The man said, „Yes.' true you want me'?" They were married, and the people all rejoiced. The 

 parents of the woman said, „More better you pay me," and the man gave payment for her. 

 (Biri, Ipisia). 



323. The Dür(3po people were fishing with a kind of trap called kùro which is a small 

 conical basket provided with thorns on the inside to prevent the fish fiom escaping. There 

 was one man who was very shy and did not care to mix with the people and was left without 

 a share in the fish. F'inding himself neglected he thought, „I got hand, I got leg, I man, go 

 by-andby self, catch him fish.'' He provided himself with a few kùro traps and asked his wife 

 to get him some bait to put into them. Then he hung them up on sticks in the water and 

 caught plenty of fish. But one of the sticks broke, so the man could not find the kåro. He did 

 not know that there was a crocodile in the water, and when he waded out to find his küro he 

 was taken by the beast. His wives waited in vain for him and concluded that he hnd fallen 

 victim to a crocodile. The people all went to look for him in their canoës but could not find 

 him, and they wailed. But the two women said to the brothers of their dead husband, „You 

 fellow no cry. You no been gi\e him no fish, that's why he go look round fish hin self, alli- 

 gator catch him." (Bi'ri, Ipisi'a). 



324. The VVàpi people once held a feast, and during the night one of the women went 

 to the creek to fetch v\ater. There was a large crocodile, and on seeing the woman it thought, 

 „That woman corne close to, I catch him." While the woman was filling her water-carrier the 

 beast came and dragged her under water. The people armed themselves and looked round for 

 her without knowing where she had gone, but she could be found nowhere. After a time her 

 husband held a morning feast. „I sorry my woman," he said, „this time I no want take new 

 woman quick, I stop six moon. Six moon he finish, I find him another woman." (Nâtai, Ipisi'a). 



325. Two Mawâta women named Isai and Woipa were one day digging for crabs at 

 the mouth of the Bfnatûri river. Suddenly Isai was caught by a crocodile, and Woipa ran on 

 to a fallen trea from whare she saw how har friend was hauled under water. The people were 

 informed of the accident and began to wail. In the morning the crocodile was found. It had 

 devoured the greater part of the woman's body and hald the rest between its jaws, but as she 



JSI:o 1. 



