Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 1, 1890.djvu/190

184 go now," they replied. Kabur gave them some food, and they went into the bush and hid the food. Dorg once more painted himself with red, put on a large gauntlet, and carried five sticks, while he again followed Malu's track. Kabur painted herself, put on plenty of petticoats and ornaments, and stayed behind.

The two brothers returned to the house. Dam entered, and cut the string which suspended the basket, and gave the latter to Samekĕp to hold. When Dam got outside he wanted Samekĕp to give up the basket as he had taken it; but Samekĕp said to Dam, "You go and get a drum and we will dance." Samekĕp put on the ati (3). Dam took a drum, and Samekĕp danced. Dam again asked for the ati or octopus. Samekĕp said, "No, the drum is good enough for you." The brothers left the bomai at the village of Las (4). As they were returning thither the men called out to the brothers, "You got him now?" To which they received this satisfactory answer, "Yes."

Dorg went round the island as far as Gizo, and having run quickly, was very tired. "Heart along him think, these two fellows steal my thing." Then he walked home, and took his bow and arrows, and further armed himself with sharks' teeth fastened on to a stick (5). Kabur took a kubager, or sharp piece of wood, and together they went to Las, and talked to the people of that village.

The Las men gave Dorg a pipe of tobacco to smoke, "and they friends." They said, "This belong man, send woman away." Dorg said, "All right, you keep him."

Canoes came from all islands to see Malu, so great did the fame of the zogo become.

"One star, Tagai, he got a canoe. Tagai he captain, stop in forehead [bow] of canoe and look out and spear fish. Karĕg he mate, stop in stern, plenty men crew. They go over reef, Karĕg he pole canoe (1). Tagai spear fish. Sun hot on reef, all men thirsty, and steal water in canoe