also to the tall sugarcane and the orabu, the flowering rush. And they both did eat and their hunger was stayed.
Now while they were eating the birds were at work in their gardens, tilling the ground. When the work was finished they dug up much taro and returned to the village to cook their food. They peeled the roots and cut them up and placed them in the pots for cooking. Then said Binama the hornbill, "Let one of you go down to the beach and bring sea water that our food may be salted."
But his word bare no fruit, for one by one the birds made excuse, fearing lest an enemy lay in wait. At last the wagtail arose, and ran into the house to make ready to go to the beach. He hung his kada (shell breastplate) round his neck, tied waving feathers round his head, and took his spear and went forth. And as he went he leapt from side to side the better to avoid the foe, if foe there were. In a little he came to Binama's garden and saw the Turtle and Wallaby feeding. Their hearts trembled; nevertheless the Turtle made bold and said to the wagtail, "Thy master has bidden us eat of his bananas that our hunger may be stayed."
Now the wagtail knew in his heart that they lied, but he answered never a word, but filled his bottles with sea water and ran back to the village by another way. When he reached the village he cried aloud, "Friends, the Turtle and the Wallaby are eating in our master's garden!" At this word, all arose and
