Papuan Fairy Tales/Kakukaku and Taureboga

by Annie Ker

KAKUKAKU AND TAUREBOGA

Kakukaku and Taureboga were brothers, and dwelt in one house with their sister Rekota, who wasa widow. Now it fell on a day that the woman's little son, being alone in the house with his mother, cried to her for food, and Rekota, having none, said sharply, "Hush thy cry! Thine uncles are but idly walking about. Dost think they would dig thy food?" And then, not wishing that the child should hunger, she took her pearl shell and string bag, and set out for the gardens to get food that her son might eat.

Now while she was yet at the gardens Kakukaku and Taureboga returned to the house, and, seeing the child with tears on his cheeks, said, "Why hast thou been crying, nephew?" Then the little boy, who could scarce speak plain, said, "I cried for food, and Rekota said ye were walking about and would not dig to give me to eat. But she has gone herself and will bring us some."

At these words the brothers' hearts grew hot within them, and taking counsel together they agreed to die, for who would care to live after being thus accused? But first they bethought them of their necklaces of shell money, and how they might see that none should take them after their death. To

this end Kakukaku climbed a palm tree and plucked several young coconuts. One they gave to the child; the others they opened and scraped the flesh, heaping it in a wooden bowl. Then they unthreaded their necklaces, and mixed the shell money with the white flesh of the coconuts. This they ate, leaving none in the bowl.

After they had thus done, they brought forth their war ornaments, and arrayed themselves as though they feared an enemy drew near, and they said to the child, "Tell thy mother that her brothers, knowing of her words, have gone to die in battle." And they laid spears on their shoulders, and set out. In a short space of time Rekota returned, and her son gave the message even as he had heard it. Her heart was sore when the news was told, and she threw down the bag of food, and ran out of the house with the child in her arms.

The brothers had not gone far, and Rekota espied them as they began to go up a little hill. She called to them,—

"Kakukaku ma Taureboga,
Novumi Rekota;
Matagei roboi."
("Kakukaku and Taureboga,
I am your sister Rekota;
Take your nephew in your arms.")

Kakukaku, as he walked, said to his brother, "Hark! That is our sister calling." "Nay," replied Taureboga. "It is now the softness of evening. It is but the kabaku singing ere it sleeps." And they made as if to go on. But Rekota called again,—

"Kakukaku ma Taureboga.
Novumi Rekota;
Matagei roboi."

And this time they knew it was the voice of Rekota, and waited for her to come to them, and Taureboga took the child into his arms and nursed it.

Rekota said to her brothers, "Whither go ye?" for she was much afraid when she saw the spears.

"We go to seek death, sister," answered Kakukaku, sadly.

"Then will I go also," quoth Rekota, and all went on together until they came to a large village. But though houses were many, men there were none. In the shade of a cycas palm sat an old woman, and round her played little children. Kakukaku asked them what had befallen the village that no men remained in it.

"Our fathers are working in the gardens," said the children.

"Go then," said the brothers, "and tell them that Kakukaku and Taureboga and their sister are here, and have brought war!"

The children did as they were told, but on the path lay a fallen tree, and as they stepped over it the message they bore faded from their minds. "Why go we to the gardens?" asked one child, and none that were with him could give answer. "Let us go back," said another, "and perchance we may call it to mind." So they returned to the village and said to the brothers, "Who are ye? We have passed over a fallen tree in the path, and cannot remember what ye gave us to say."

Then Kakukaku and Taureboga repeated the message, saying, "Go, tell your fathers that Kakukaku and Taureboga and their sister Rekota are here, and have brought war! But when ye come to the fallen tree ye shall not all cross over at the same time, but let some of you tarry on the hither side, and repeat the words to those who have already stepped over. Then may ye all go forward once more."

Thus did the children. When they came to the fallen tree most of them crossed over, but some remained behind. And these cried to those on the other side, "What words take ye?"

"We cannot tell," answered they, for as they crossed the tree they forgot their errand. Then cried the children who had not yet crossed the words of the message, and in their turn stepped over the tree, and all went on until they came to the gardens. When the men working there heard the message which had been sent to them, they seized their spears and hastened home to attack the strangers who had invaded their village. Kakukaku and Taureboga saw them coming, and Kakukaku said to the old woman sitting under the cycas palm, "When we are dead save the child, and let him not be killed, and we will reward thee." "How may that be?" asked the dame, 'seeing that ye carry no goods or other payment?"

"Ask for what is found inside our bodies," said Kakukaku quickly, for the men were close at hand. In a few moments all was over. The few spears the brothers had did not much harm, and death, which they had sought, came speedily to them and to their sister Rekota. But the old woman held the child firmly and yielded him up to none of those who would have taken his life.

It was now growing dark, and the bodies of the slain were soon cut up and made ready for the pot. The old woman said that she wished not for flesh to eat, but would fain have as her share what was found inside the men's bodies when they were cut up. The men gave her what she wanted, and she laid away carefully the shell money which the brothers had swallowed before setting out to meet their death. And she was faithful to her trust, and fed and cared for the little child left in her care until he was grown.

Now as the child grew bigger, he grew also fierce and violent. Day by day, when playing with the village children, he would ever strive to be chief in the games, and desired that all should bend to his will. And it came to pass on a certain day, that he, as was his wont, was beating and stoning the children who pleased him not, and one bolder than the rest, cried, ' Why dost thou ever beat and ill-treat us? Is it thy vengeance for thy three kinsfolk who are dead?"

How Wakeke Defeated Arebo.

The boy was much perplexed to know what this saying might be, but he held his head high, and answered, "It is no concern of thine. Hold thy peace." Nevertheless, he hasted to the old woman who sat under the cycas palm, and asked, "Dame, who killed my kinsfolk? Tell me, I pray thee."

And the old woman, ever ready to do his will, replied, "The fathers of thy play-mates killed thy kinsfolk, my son."

When the child heard this he ran away from the village and laid a plan how he might avenge the deaths of his people. And at night he returned, and when all slept he closed every doorway, and set fire to the houses, sparing only the one wherein dwelt the old woman who had cared for him. So were all in the village destroyed, and the lad's heart cooled within him, for he had taken vengeance and was content.