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70 plantain, and he was binding leaves about the fruit that it might ripen and that no birds might eat of it.

Then said they to him, "Thy wife hath accused us of bewitching thee. Look now where the rain is falling, and thou shalt see what thy wife herself is." Then they stood beside the plantain to guard their brother against the witches if they should see that he was watching, and the man above listened while they sang. And these are the words of the song, which is called "Toroa":

When they had made an end of singing, the rain ceased, and the witches went away. But the man in the plantain was afraid to come down from it until he knew they would not return. Then he too went away to his home, and thought on what he had seen and heard. And ever "Toroa" rang in his ears, and he longed to sing it, that he might know it yet better. But he feared lest his wife should hear him, and so know that he had seen her as she danced with the witches.

Therefore on the morrow he said to his wife, "Go to-day to the garden and work. I shall stay at home