Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 24, 1913.djvu/322

 300 The Poetry of the Kiivai Papuans.

point on Kivvai island. Flying about in the shape of a bird-of-paradise Abere wants to help her people, but the bird-of-paradise cannot take her over to the island, as it is a bush bird and does not belong to the sea.

52. ^' Mumu Kiwai gima badu mumii Kiwai." ("Two pigeon, gimae and badu, carry Abere go along Kiwai.")

Abere helps her people to reach Kiwai, and some of the plants which they have brought with them are saved.

53. "Don everevio biisere nigo iiraniii dou evereuio." (" All girl belong Abere bring sago-tree and plant him, he all same husband belong you.") No explanation could be given as to why the sago-palms are mentioned as fictitious husbands of the girls. In this verse " Abere's girls" are substituted for " Abere's people " in the previous verses. In the legends Abere is represented as the foster-mother of a great many girls.

54. " Nato boronio ibodoro nato riroiiT (" Abere send him altogether girl go follow track belong pig.")

The girls kill the pig and bring it home. It is cut up, and a small piece is put in the ground where they plant sago. Afterwards they plant bananas, yams, taro, and other garden produce, but without the meat, which is the " medicine " of sago only. All these plants are first brought to Kiwai by Abere.

i. A Song of the Making of a Canoe.

Another serial song describes the making of a canoe, in which the people afterwards go out on a voyage ; it is sung both at the mogiiru ceremony and at a dance called upipoo.

1. "■ Biirai negebaduvio nlmo btirdi tato npi bnrai negeba- duino." (" All you me woman cut him canoe now, you me no got no canoe.")

2. " Bnrai nasiodunw iiiino buraitato npi bnrai tiasiodutno." (" All you me woman cut him other end belong canoe, no got no canoe.")