other; some village dogara (elder) would have a group listening intently to his tale told over a smoking fire lit in the open; and in the men's club-house reclining forms would woo sleep to the sound of still another of these folk-tales recounted by a more wakeful one of their number.
But, as amongst the primitive tribes of Papua no written record whatever exists of these ancient stories, it was thought well to preserve in a more lasting form some at least of the vanishing store, for the older generation is fast dying out, and the young folk, now in touch with the white man, cannot be expected to treasure the old lore as did their fathers.
So natives who heard there was a white woman who would give tobacco for "Virarautua" (folk-lore) came in companies, and seated on the ground before me told at length and with much repetition the tales which follow. If their memory failed them on any point, or I wished for further elucidation, the narrator referred the disputed matter to some patriarch, who settled it dogmatically for us.
The tales exhibit to a marvellous degree the Papuan outlook upon life. What could be more characteristic of the native temperament than the action taken by Kakukaku and Taureboga when their sister Rekota's slighting remarks were repeated to them? No self-respecting Papuan would think it worth while to survive the insult. Hence their self-immolation.
Sorcerers and witches, who play so great a part in the stories, are a very real feature in Papuan life
