iioTii] HEROES 131 



him \vat<>r to bathe with, and for this jiurpose gave him a quake.' But when the 

 poor fellow put the quake into the water-hole, and pulled it out again, the water of 

 course all escaped; he tried many times, but it continued to escape. Just then he 

 heard a rushing sound proceeding from the bush, and there appeared a Hebu : when 

 the latter learned what he was trying to do he offered his assistance, and made the 

 water remain in the quake. The would-be bridegroom can-ied it to his prospective 

 father-in-law, and bathed him. The old man then told Yar to shoot some fish for 

 him; that he would find the corial at the \yaterside, a bench for it under the roots 

 of a i)articular tree, and an arrow hang in the .shade of another. It is true the corial 

 wa.s at the waterside; it wa.s really lying under water, and was a very heavy one — 

 but the young man managed to haul it up at last, and then bail it out. Proceeding 

 to the particular tree indicated, and looking in and among the roots he was surprised 

 and frightened at seeing an alligator there; he held on to its neck, and it changed 

 into a bench which fitted the boat.- In the shade of the other tree he was similarly 

 taken aback when a big snake came into view, he seized its neck, however, and it 

 changed into a fish-arrow. The old man now joined him; they got into the corial 

 and paddled down the .stream. "I want some kwabaihi'' fish," said the old man, 

 "but vou mu.st not look into the water. Shoot up into the air." Uis companion 

 did a.s he wa.s told, and so skilful wa.-^ he with the bow that the arrow pierced the fish 

 and killed it. So big was the fish that when hauled in it almost sunk the corial; 

 they managed to get it home, however. 



31. The old man was now thoroughly satisfied with Yar's worth, and gave him his 

 plum-tree daughter, I'sidiu. Next morning the young couple went out hunting in 

 the bush.'' \\'hen they returned late in the afternoon, father and daughter had a 

 long and earnest conversation of a private and somewhat delicate nature, the ovitcome 

 of which was tliat the old man learnt for the first time that the masterpiece upon 

 which he had expended so much time, skill, and cunning, was not quite perfect. 

 Her husband had found fault with her. Hunting was resumed the following day; 

 a private conversiition was again held in the late afternoon, the result of which showed 

 clearly that the fault complained of still remained. The distracted father could 

 only assure her that he could do notliing further fo render her acceptable to his son- 

 in-law. When the latter heard this, he consulted a bti-nia bird (Opistho comus), 

 whom he brought back with him next day. A\Tiile being nursed and fed in the girl's 

 lap, the WTetched bird forcibly took a very mean advantage of her innocence, and 

 then flew away. This outrage having been brought to the knowledge of the father, 

 he determined upon gi\'ing his daughter one more trial, with the result that he suc- 

 ceeded in removing a snake ex parte questa personse eius. The difficulty was now 

 remedied and the young woman went once more to join her husband. The following 

 afternoon, on their return from the usual hunt, father and daughter met again in 

 private conversation. Happy girl! — her husband was quite satisfied with her, ha\-ing 

 no complaint whatever to make. 



32. Now although the old man purposely e\-inced no signs of ill-will, he was greatly 

 displea.spd with his .son-in-law, not only for expressing discontent with the piece 

 of .sculpture when it first came into his pos.ses.'non, but also for ha\'ing allowed the bunia 

 bird to tinker with it. He bided hi.s time, waiting for his revenge to come when the 

 young man should complete the customary marriage task.s — the cutting of a field, 

 and the building of a house for him. It was not long before Yar commenced cutting 

 the field : he worked at it early, he worked at it late, and at last told his wife to let 

 her father know that it was ready for his inspection. The old man went to have a 



■ It would seem to be an invariable practice with the Indians to bathe afltr a meal. 

 ' A very common form of house-bench is one in the shape of this reptile. 

 3 The name of a big species of lukunanni ( Cichla ocetlaris) . 



< Previous to the advent of civUizing influences among the In<lians, the jiu cmnubii was usually 

 e.\ercised during the waking hours. 



