Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 1, 1890.djvu/185

Rh and below; a roof is to be built over the platform which is to be erected on the four posts."

When all this was done Tiai placed a dugong harpoon on the top and crept inside the erection, he being watched by a crowd of men. Some of the men then softly beat their drums and Tiai made the sara shake. When he stopped, the men beat their drums more loudly, and Tiai stood up on the roof, having a dugong harpoon on one side of him and a bow on the other. As the drums were again beaten Tiai seized hold of the dugong harpoon and bow. Once more the drums were beaten and Tiai leaped on to the ground. More loudly still sounded the drums, and Tiai danced his own funeral dance. As Tiai advanced Aukwŭm followed; soon Tiai reached a hole in the ground made by some sorcery-men (maidĕlaig), which he entered. Aukwum said, "Well, Tiai, do you leave me now?" Tiai replied, "You come too"; and his mother followed Tiai into the bowels of the earth.

Now Naga of Nagir was learned in the cult of his tribe, he knew how to manufacture the large dance-masks (1), he instructed the people in singing and dancing, and, moreover, he possessed the knowledge of everything relating to the kwod, or place set apart for various ceremonies.

Hearing of his fame, a Mabuiag native, Waiăt by name, came to Nagir in order to be instructed how to beat the drum. Naga taught Waiăt what he required, but the latter was mean enough to steal a large mask. Then Naga gave a mask to the inhabitants of Tud, another to those of Waraben, a third to the natives of Moa, and reserved one for his own island. To all the islands Muralug, Waraber, Tud, Yam, Moa, Badu, Mabuiag, Masig, Purma, Aurid, he gave a valve of the "akul". Naga was "wild" because Waiăt stole his mask.