198 animism and folk-lore of guiana indians [eth. ann. 30 



The Rain-frog Wife (W) 



A party of hunters were walking along the pathway in the bush, one behind the 

 other, the hindermost being a long way apart from the others. He heard the smaller 

 Rain-frog [ho-ha'ra] croaking, so he shouted, "Don't make such a noise, Ho-ha'ra, 

 but come out and show yourself! " and Ho-hara came up from behind in the shape of a 

 woman. "Who calls me? You?" "Yes, I called you; you are a nice wench, too, 

 and had better come home with me. " She being agreeable, went home, and lived 

 with him a long time. But his people were continually nagging at her. You see, being 

 really a frog, she had no waist, her hips were narrow and her foot was long; and accord- 

 ingly her step-parents would always be calling her names, as "Froggie, where's your 

 waist? " "Small-hip, " " Lanky-foot. " Her life, once full of joy, was now replete with 

 misery, so she determined upon returning to her own people. She went into the bush, 

 and her man, following the trail, got almost in touch with her; but just then she 

 jumped into a little puddle and disappeared. He put his hand in, and felt all the way 

 round, but no further trace of her could he find. You can always hear her, however, 

 at the commencement of the rainy season. 



