702 



instance, neither '^explanatory myths," nor any other theories 

 as to the origin or nature of the sea and land, or sun, moon,, 

 and stars. There is, however, a legend concerning the origin 

 of Mailu Island, which asserts that it was hauled up out of 

 the sea during a big fishing expedition from A r 6772 a. ('^^'^^ 



Very few stare are differentially named, and among these 

 the morning star is called Lnrdni, and the evening star 

 Gamovanovdno ; but they do not know that the same star 

 (Venus) shines at times before sunrise and at times after 

 sunset. I also think that when another large planet — Jupiter, 

 for instance — is on the western sky in the evening they give it 

 the same name. Nothing is known about the nature of the 

 morning and evening star. 



The Pleiades are called Unidra. They are said to be 

 women, and the three stars of Orion's Belt are named 

 Boraa'eva. These are said to be a man, a pig, and a child. 

 There must have been some explanatory tales connected with 

 these constellations, but if so the natives in Mailu have for- 

 gotten them completely, because even the oldest and wisest 

 men knew nothing about the subject. 



The natives are acquainted with many of the features of 

 the tides. They know the spring and neap tides, and their 

 connection with the moon ; also the fact that the differences of 

 level between high and low water is not the same in the two 

 daily tides, and that, according to the season, this is greater in 

 day time or at night time. One of the names by which the 

 south-eastern season (the winter) is known is Lagdi^u wura, 

 which means dry reef. It is remarkable that the natives have 

 different names for the reef by day (Lagdru) and by night 

 (Muma). The Muma appears in the north-western season 

 (summer), and during this period the fishing and collecting of 

 shellfish is done by nis^ht. The season for day fishing is when 

 the Lagdru is dry ; that means during the winter or south- 

 eastern season, ^lo^) 



It has been said that the natives are well acquainted with 

 the seasonal sequence of winds ; in fact, they name the seasons 

 after the prevailing winds (see chap, iii., sec. 2). The direc- 

 tions are also named after the winds. Thus, as mentioned 



(107) This legend, with several others, has been recorded by the 

 missionary of Mailu, the Rev. W. J. V. Saville ; these, T hope, 

 will be shortly published by him. 



(108) For the information about the tides and the reefs I am 

 indebted to the Rev. W. J. V. Saville, whose thorough familiarity 

 with the language, and his long contact with the natives, has 

 given him an excellent knowledge of many aspects of native life 

 and psychology. 



