Page:Papuan Fairy Tales.djvu/48

26 It came to pass that a certain man had a wife, whose name was Kemiana, and she was old and therefore could not seek food for herself, but ever remained in the house, while her husband sought it for her. One day as he was thus hunting he called to his dog, which had been beside him. But the dog came not, and the man went to seek him.

When he found him, the dog was under a tree eating greedily of some shining white things which lay upon the ground. "What eatest thou?" cried the man, and went closer to see. Now, though he knew it not, the shining white things were flying fish which had been washed out of a hole in the tree by the waves of the sea inside. And as this was so each day, some of the fish had lain there for long, and were evil smelling, while others were still alive. It was these which the dog was eating.

Now the man, doubting in his heart what this strange food might be, yet gathered some to take to Kemiana, for he had caught nothing, and he knew his wife would be hungry and scold him if he fed her not. Therefore when he reached home he laid the flying fish before Kemiana saying, "This truly is a strange food which I have brought thee. Yet thou art old, and if it bring death to thee the sooner what matter? It is better for thee to taste them than for a young person to do so."

Then Kemiana, being hungry, ate of the flying fish, and forthwith fell into a deep sleep. Nor did she wake in the morning when the sun rose, as did