llTr?i] MYTHS 465 



he told him at once that his wife had become an Ongwe las (can- 

 nibal), and that she would eat them both if they did not flee imme- 

 diately. The man and the dog started without delay on a keen run. 

 After a while the man, knowing that the dog's legs were short and 

 not strong, decided to put him into a hollow tree. The dog consented 

 to this in order to save the man, as he knew what was in store for 

 both. So the hunter placed the dog in a hollow tree, at the same time 

 bidding him to become punk. The hunter went on as fast as he could 

 lun, continuing until he came to a river with high banks, where an 

 old man lived. He said to the old man : " Grandfather, I am in great 

 trouble. Take me across the river to save me from peril of my life. 

 My wife, who has become a cannibal, is pursuing me in order to de- 

 vour me." The old man said in reply : " Oh ! I know what you are 

 telling me. but she is still a long way behind you. She will not be 

 here for some time to come. But you must bring me a basketful of 

 fish from my fishpond." The hunter at once went to the pond, which 

 was enclosed, where he found a wickerwork dip net, with which he 

 soon filled the basket with fish. As soon as the basket was full he 

 hastened back with it to the old man, who soon said, " Sit down and 

 eat with me." So they ate together the fish, which had been prepared 

 and cooked by the old man in such manner as to give the fugitive 

 hunter more orenda (magic power) to resist the hostile influence of 

 that of his wife. When they had finished eating the fish, the old 

 man said, " I now want you to bring me a basketful of groundnuts." 

 The hunter went at once to the garden of the old man, and Jigging 

 up the groundnuts as quickly as possible, brought them to him. After 

 these were prepared and cooked they sat down and ate them. Then 

 the old man said, " I will now take you across the river." Going to 

 the river bank, the old man lay face downward, resting on his elbows 

 at the edge of the water, and stretching out his neck to the farther 

 bank. He said to the hunter, " Now you may walk over on my neck, 

 but you must be very careful, for I am not as strong as I have been in 

 the past." The hunter walked over on the old man's neck with great 

 care. \A'Tien he had reached the other bank, the old man bade him 

 good-by with the remark, " Far away in the west you will see a large 

 lodge, which belongs to three aunts of yours, who will help you fur- 

 ther; so call on them for aid." On hearing this, the hunter hurried 

 away. 



After the woman had sent the dog away she ate all the flesh from 

 her bones; then with small sticks she pushed all the marrow out of 

 her bones and devoured that. too. Finalh- she filled the hollows in her 

 bones with small pebbles, which rattled as she moved around. Fi-om 

 time to time she sang and danced, causing the pebbles in her bones 

 to rattle : whereupon she would exclaim : " Oh, that sounds fine ! " 

 94615°— 16 30 



