356 . Gunnar Landtman. 



self in the water, but Oisüra had to eut off his hair in order to clean him from tiie dirt. While 

 they were sailing along Gimâda took a large bündle of sago, tied it to his belt, and said to Oisûra, 

 „Éi, you look me! No mj' fault, fault belong you (your) girl (daughter) he been give me that 

 mat." He jumped overboard and was dragged under vvater by the heavy weight. The people 

 wailed, and Oisûra who had taken Gimâda with him on the journey gave payment for him to 

 his brothers. For a man who asks somebody eise to accompany him on a journe}' or hunting 

 expedition is responsible in the case of his death. (Menégi, Mawâta). 



C. VARIOUS ADDITIONAL STORIES (no. 493—496). 

 THE DELUGE 



493. In order to take revenge upon some enemies a certain Ki'wai man once by means 

 of sorcery caused the whole country to be tlooded. He knevv what was going to happen, so he 

 embarked in a large canoe taking with him some dögs and pigs, plenty of food, and some young 

 banana- and sago-trees for planting. 



One night the flood came rushing in and soon reached the floors of the houses. The 

 people could not remain indoors but got into their canoës which they tied up to the roofs. The 

 water floated away all the flooring, and as it rose higher, it carried away the thatches too. So 

 the people shifted their canoës to the coconut palms and tied them to the tall trunks. But as 

 the flood kept on rising, the ropes slipped higher and higher up the trees, and finally the people 

 had to hold on to the leaves at the top. At last the leaves too were engulfed by the ever rising 

 sea, and the canoës were swept away by the tide. 



After a time the water began to abate and the tide floated the canoës back to the same 

 place. There was a huge Coconut-tree called Gâgama (cf. no. 4) the crown of which first emerged 

 from the water. The people held on to it, and gradually the water sank, and „canoe he go dovvn, 

 tree he go on top." After a time the people could touch the bottom with a pole, and at last the 

 canoës stranded. 



As soon as the land was bare, the same man went and took away the bad „medicine" 

 which he had used for causing the flood. Only the posts of the houses remained, and the people 

 at first had to sieep on the ground. The water had ruined all the plantations except the coconut 

 groves. But the man planted a new garden and shared the crop with the people, and they built 

 new houses. (Gabi'a, Ipisia). 



HOW THE SEA DRIED UP. 



494. Once there was a great drought and calm, and the sun caused all the bush to wither. 

 A certain woman drank salt water to quench her thirst, and this caused all the sea to flow into 

 her, so that there was no more sea and the fish were on dry land. The woman's body svvelled 

 up enormouslj' from all the water inside her. Her cheeks bulged out so that her nose seemed to 



Tom. XLVII. 



