Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 22, 1911.djvu/381

 Collectanea. 345

(from)?" Then she said, — "Something." Then they said, — " Oh, do you not see we are hoeing of our own accord. If he comes, we will kill (cut) him." So the girl went to one side, and squatted down. Then over there (they heard) the Snake saying, — " Ta mulu mubi, O Girl, give me my egg." They said, — " What is that?" Then she said, — "Ah, that is what I was running (from)." Then they said, — " Ah, you run away. We shall hide." So the girl ran away, and went and came upon some Axes which were splitting rocks. They said, — " O Girl, what are you running (from)?" Then she said, — "Something." Then they said, — " Oh, do you not see that we are splitting stones. If he comes, shall we not split him?" So she remained. Then over there (they heard) the Snake saying, — " Ta mulu mulu, O Girl, give me my egg." They said, — "What is that?" Then she said, — "Ah, that is what I was running from." Then they said, — "Ah, you run away. We shall hide." So the girl ran on, and on, and went and came upon a Centipede, who was digging (farming) and singing, — "Pull out, pull out uselessly" (the pulling out of use- lessness). So he said, — "O Girl, what are you running (from)?" Then she said, — " Something." Then it said, — " Oh, do you not see I am pulling (weeds?) out? Come back, (and) stay here." Then over there (he heard) the Snake saying, — " Ta mulu mulu. O Girl, give me my egg." Then he said, — "What is that?" Then she said, — "Ah, that is what I was running (from)." He said, — " All right." He (Centipede) did not pay any attention to him (Snake). He (kept on) singing (he was his song), — " Pull out, pull out uselessly." Then the Snake said, — " Here, you, give me my booty." '^ Then he said, — "The booty of your {ferjns of abuse)" Then the Snake said,—" I ? " So he said,—" You." Then the Snake said, — "Right. You will see what the son of {term of abuse) can do" (the work of). Then the Snake took the Centipede and swallowed (him). But he came out of the pupil of the Snake's eye, and started singing, — "Pull out, pull out uselessly." Then the Snake again swallowed him, but he emerged from the middle of the head. "Pull out, pull out uselessly." Then he (once) more swallowed him, but he emerged from his stomach. " Pull out, pull out uselessly." The Snake fell down

^ Ajjia is really something which has been left for safe keeping.