■///(• Folk-Tnh'x of Hic K'imh P<i/>ii<iii^. 109 



down one bow-string and nne arrow in each of the men's houses, and without mentioning the 

 paru people he said to the men, „Who man he strong, he take this öne." The people wondered 

 among themsehes, „VVhat name (why) he put that thing? More better j'ou me believe (obey) 

 him." And the great fighting leaders picked up the bow-strings and arrows. They brought 

 home some branches of a certain bush with gay-coloured leaves called pia, which is associated 

 vvith fighting, and at each of the men's houses a certain man vigorously pulled one branch through 

 his hand, so that the leaves feli to the ground where they were left to decaj'; this action also 

 referred to war. 



The Mâsingàra men were ready for war and awaited the arrivai of the Dâru people. 

 Some of them liad friends in Dâru whom they wanted to save, and in such a case it is custom- 

 ary among the bushmen to chew some betelnut and spit the red juice at the man in question 

 who thus marked will he spared by everybody. 



The Ddru people went and speared dugong and turtle in order to take the meat with 

 them to Mâsingàra. The man who had outraged the Mâsingàra woman anticipated trouble and 

 said to a friend ot his, „1 been do something along Mâsingàra woman, more better you me (we) 

 stop, by-and-by (otherwise) them fellow kill you me." And the two pretended to be ill and re- 

 mained at home. The rest of the people set off to Mâsingàra and when they came near the 

 place, they rested and divided out the portions of meat vvhich they intended for their various 

 friends. 



On the appointed day the Mâsingàra boys who had been set to watch called out, „Oh, 

 Dâru people! Oh, Dâru people!" The mats were removed from the men's houses, and some leaf- 

 spathes of a certain palm were spread out instead to prevent the blood from defiling the floor 

 where the people slept. Some men said to their wives, „I kill him that Dâru man; you kill him 

 wife belong him." It was also arranged to spare certain good men and women, for after the 

 fight the bushmen wanted to make friends again with the Dâru people. 



The visitors arrived and were asked to sit down in the différent houses. The outraged 

 Mâsingàra man waited for his particular enemy to come before starting the fight; but the man 

 did not turn up. The bushman asked for him and heard that he was ill and had remained at 

 home. ..Oh, that no good," thought he, but he wanted to fight all the same, for he was „too 

 much strong inside". So he drew his bow at another Hfamu man and shot him, calling out at 

 the same time, „Dime (fight)! Where that man been humbug mj- woman? You think I small boy.'" 

 There was a great fight and bloodshed, some Dâru people were shot and others run through vvith 

 wooden spears (bågari). A few were sa ved by their friends and ran away. Some wounded 

 fugitives dropped down on the path. A number of people lost their way in the bush. The Mâ- 

 singàra men ran in pursuit and killed anyone they could get hold of. Two or three Dâru canoës 

 e.scaped, and the Mâsingàra people shouted after them, „Next time no more fight. Next time by- 

 and-by friend." Whereupon they explained the cause of the fight. 



The Dâru fugitives wailed in their canoës, 



1 , Eh, iviri kutäigo eh sdvadi kutàigo eh djùdji vitråja eh djôdji vuråja eh djödji kutåigo. 

 — Oh, altogether my good brother, altogether poor people he dead now." 



2. „Iviri maiiuiri môgiwûda kàvoarima sûbu sàeba. — That time me come, me pleniy 

 people, this time too short (few), no much people." 



.\:o 1. 5-2 



