496 Gunnar Landtman. 



and women tums white like the feathers of the white heron, while it does nnt with other people 

 („all same split him tvvo side"). 



The other girls arrived, and the eldest looked in first: „My word, small sister belong me 

 fellow alongside man!" Her eyes turned toward the man: „Oh, good man, he man belong me," 

 and she went and put down all her things close to him and sat down there. AU- the other girls, 

 too, looked at the boy: „Oh, good fellow man, I want that man," and sat down close to him 

 with their things. The man did not say a word and sat with his head down, for he was ashamed 

 now that they bad found him out. The little sister was very glad („he got laugh inside throat") 

 but she waited for the others to speak first and thought, „Before you no been come sit alongside 

 that man, you no been give him no kaikai, fish. What for you look body all time.' I no been 

 look body, I been look eye, that no eye belong sick man. That's why all time 1 been give 

 him kaikai, fish." 



One of the sisters said, „More better that man take him big sister, you me come behind, 

 big sister he go first." But the little sister said, „No, no, you no been look out him that time he 

 got sore, all you fellow no been hslp me, you been think that no good man." She took out 

 the bird's skin and gave it to the man, who put it on and became a bird. All the girls began 

 quarrelling över the man. The big sisters fought the little sister, till blood was shed, and the 

 eldest rolled up the bird in a small mat and put it under he skirt, after which all the big sisters 

 ran away with the little sister in pursuit. From Kubira they went över to Düdi; they were „devil- 

 girl" and „beginning belong them people", which explains how they could pass över the water. The . 

 first girl kept the bird all the time under her skirt. Thej' foUowed the coast as far as Biidji and 

 from there went över to Bôi^u. (Nämai, iVlawàta). 



THE DANCE FOR PONIPONI 



457. The girls found all the Böigu people awa\- except one man, who looked after the 

 place, and they asked him, „Where all Böigu people?" He answered, „Man, woman been go 

 More (Murray Islands). Good girl .stop along that place, name belong Pönipöni (which means 

 lightning). He no like man. Everybody try, try — he no want no boy along More. That's 

 why Morévanogére (her father, ef. Index) sing out people, 'Altogether Island lie come, dance here.' 

 He want find out what place he good boy, that girl he like him." 



The girls went on, and coming to Davane asked a inan, „Where all people?" „All he 

 been go along More." The girls ate a little, dränk some water, and started off again. Arriving 

 at Mäbuiag they asked someone, „Where man?" and were told, „He been go More, Morévanogére 

 he sing out." The girls proceeded on their waj' carrying the heron with them all the time, and 

 coming to Bädu and Möa, asked the same question, „Where altogether people?" „()h, he been 

 go along MfJre long time (long ago), all young man, girl go." Climbing the hill in M(')a they 

 savv M()re in the far distance. They went on to Mukäro (Cape Island) and did not find anj' 

 people there either, as everybody had gone to Möre. Arriving at Yam they asked a cripple who 

 remained alone in the village, „Where altogether people?" „Oh, he been go along Möre, me 

 one man (alone)." From N'am they went to Iribu (.Augaro), but all the people had gone to M(')re 



Tom. XLVIl. 



