Page:Folklore1919.djvu/586

220 A man named Isizọbọ of Iki had one wife, and some one told him that she walked about when he was away; so he watched but saw nothing. Then one day he told his wife to get food ready, as he was going hunting. So she ground corn and mixed palm oil and pepper, etc., and tied it in a leaf. Then she gave it to her husband, who put it in a bag on his back, and took his gun, saying that he was going away for four days. So he went; but stopped on the way. The woman cooked food when he was gone, and made two portions; one she gave to a friend in the town and the other she put aside, and called another friend to come and eat in the house. She told the first one to come and see her when everyone was asleep; the second one visited her at dusk, and when he came, she put food down and he ate. Then the man said, “Let us play”; so they played and then the man fell asleep. While he slept the husband came to the door and knocked, and the wife asked who it was; so he said it was her husband. “But you said you were going to be away four days,” she said; but her friend was afraid and got up, and she put him in a big pot and hid him. Then the husband called again, “Why don't you open?” So she said, “Sleep troubles me. I can’t get up quickly.” Then she opened the door, and he asked with whom she had been talking. “No one.” The husband said he had heard a man’s voice, but the wife denied it.

Then the husband sat down; and the first friend was just starting, and he found the woman and her husband together. The woman said: “You have been a long time fetching this pot.” So he put it on his head and went away, not in the least comprehending what the situation was. And as he was ruminating over the matter and saying, “How is this, etc.,” the man on his head said, “Which way will he go?” He asked, “Who is that talking on my head?” and threw down the pot and broke it and ran away.