The Folk-Taks of the Khvai Papuans. 533 



and the pièce of wood was drawn out. The people said to the wife of the dead man, „What's 

 the good you humbug man belong you all time, no good you hit him." He was buried, and 

 his wife wailad över him. 



The people are anxious to teach their children not to touch the firewood belonging to 

 anyone eise, for that causes trouble and fight. When a man goes away, he asks some friend to 

 look after his firewood, lest someone eise should take it. (Nåtai, Ipisia). 



A. Mâbere, a Ki'wai man, ahvays had his wife to bring him firewood. One evening she threw 

 a pièce of firewood at him Ihrough a hole above her door, and he was hit in the eye and killed. In 

 the morning he was found. The people considered that he was himself to blame. Since that occasion 

 everybody procures his supply of firewood for himself aud does not ask anybody eise for it. The 

 pièce of firewood which had caused Mâbere's death was kept by his brother, who showed it to the 

 young people when telling them this story (Käku, Ipisia). 



B. Mâbere, an Ipisia man, tried in vain to get firewood from the other men in the men's 

 house, and then he went and asked his wife for some and was killed as in the previous versions. The 

 woman heard his groaning but did not dåre to go out in the dark. She could not sleep that night, 

 and in the morning she found her husband dead. Since then the people do not give firewood to anyone 

 eise, and if someone steals firewood belonging to any other man it is sure to cause a fight. (Gabia, Ipisia). 



C. Måbere of Kiwai was killed by his wife with a pièce of firewood in the same way as above. 

 (Epére, Ipisia). 



THE MAN WHO OFFERED HIS DRUM FOR SOME FIREWOOD. 



489. Once the Ågidai people who live in VVàpi sent an invitation to the Gémeidai people 

 in Sépe saying, „Next moon you fellow come place belong me fellow." The two peoples divided 

 a coconut leaf between them by splitting it up along the midrib and kept an account of the 

 passing of the time by tearing away one leaflet every day. The Agidai people brought home a 

 grèat quantity of bananas which they hung up in their houses to ripen, they prepared sago, and 

 collected all sorts of other kaikai too as well as firewood. And the Gémeidai people put their 

 canoës in order and decorated them, ready to sail över to Wäpi. 



One of the Ågidai men named Avvaito thoughtlessly omitted to provide himself with 

 tirewood. The Sépe party arrived one evening when it was dark. They had been caught by a 

 heavy rain on the way and were shivering with cold. On hearing the noise of their landing, 

 some Ågidai people lighted their torches and went out: „Oh, friend belong me he come now!" 

 And the new-comers were taken into the house. 



Avvåido who had no firewood went and asked a friend, „You give me firewood, I want 

 make fire, friend belong me he cold." But the other man did not give him any firewood, and 

 the same was the case 'with all the other men to whom he applied. Then he took his drum^ 

 beat it by way of demonstrating its sound and handed it to another man saying, „You take drum, 

 give me firewood." „I got drum," the other fellow answered. „I no want that drum," and no 

 one gave Awäido any firewood in exchange for the drum. Awäido felt bitter and angry, and 

 N:o 1. 



