4'it) CiUNNAR LaNDTMAN. 



distributed the fish among the people, and a great kaikai was held. ïhe people did not knovv 

 of his fishing method and thought that he had speared them or caught them with his hand. 



Next day the man promised the people some more fish and asked them to get firewood 

 ready for cooking them. While he was squatting in the sea, a large „king-fish" (gâigai) swam 

 towards him, and the man turned his back according to the movements of the fish. At iast the 

 fish passed in through his anus and penetrated nearly as far as his neck, breaking a hole through 

 his body, and the man died. 



As he did not return home, the people went to seek for him and found him dead with 

 the tail of the fish sticking out from his body. Then they understood how he had caught the 

 fish and why he did not want anybody to go with him. (Nåmai, Mawàta). 



THE MAN WHO TOOK OFF HIS HEAD AND PLAYED WITH IT IN THE SEA. 



378. At a point called Bûtu in Sâibai there lived a man called Otapepogorügorü. He 

 used to eut off his head and let it play about in the surf while his body remained on shore. The 

 breakers in the water were caused by his longue. While swimming the head used to sing, 



„Kåika lubc sigapatâio kânanakûio.'' These words refer to the breaking of the waves. 



After swimming nearly as far as Davâne the head returned and fastened itself on to the 

 body. The man got up and called out, „My god, I got fine play, finedance!" Then he brought 

 home some tood, water, and firewood and prepared a meal, and he and his dogs ate. 



The next day before going to his garden he again eut off his head and let it play in the 

 waves swimming nearly to Màbuiag and back again. A little fish named kûtikiiti started to 

 snap at the head, and after a while a small shark and other fish attacked it. „He ! I no come 

 for play along you fellow," the man protested, „I come for dance." In the end a „diamond-fish" 

 (pûrukàhi) and another large fish named kâiibuku caught hold ot him and carried him away for 

 ever. (Menégi, Ma\Aâta). 



A. A certain Aramôna man named Kânanakiije who lived alone with his mother, thought 

 that the breakers in the sea were people playing about in the water. One day his ovvn head came off 

 from his Shoulders and went to play about among the waves singing, 



„Kànanakûje Kdnanaki'ije kôika labe sikapotâja kôika labe sikapoUija. — I Kânanakiije, I play 

 along you fellow. Sea he jump one side, head jump other side." 



After a while the head returned to the shore and refastened itself to the body. This game was 

 resumed the next day. A shoal of little fish came and snapped at the head, Kânanakiije said, .,1 no 

 want play along you fellow, I want play along my people," by them he meant the waves. But after 

 a while a shark came and devoured the head. Kânanakùje's spirit appeared to his mother, and she 

 addressed it thinking that it was her son in the tlesh. The spirit did not answer and then she under- 

 stood that her son was dead. Shortly after that she went and settled down with some other people. 

 (Iku, Mawâta). 



B. This version is continued from the taie of Javâgi the Sâibai man who had no legs (cf. no. 

 452). After he had thrown up Kârongo into the sky he went to play in the water in lull dancing 

 gear. On seeing the big waves outside at Davâne Javâgi thought, „Oh, plenty man and woman he 



Tom. XL Vil. 



