Papuan Fairy Tales/The Man without Hands and Feet
THE MAN WITHOUT HANDS AND FEET.
In a certain village lived a man whose name was Waidudu, and he had neither hands nor feet. But that mattered the less in that he had two brothers who brought him food each day, and cared for him in many other ways. Now it came to pass that one day they went forth to the gardens and left Waidudu alone in the village. And as he sat in the house alone he heard a terrible voice, which said, 'O ye sons of men, stay now in your houses, lest I spear you!" Waidudu looked forth, and saw the great and terrible Aidagagiogio, who was decked with leaves and who carried many spears. At this sight Waidudu's heart failed him, and he cried, "I pray thee, spear me not!"
Then said Aidagagiogio, 'Come out then and climb a coco palm that I may have dalo, young ones, to drink."
"Alas, my lord," said Waidudu, "how may I do this thing, seeing I have neither hands nor feet?"
"Let not your heart get hot," answered Aidagagiogio, "but come out and I will give thee my hands and feet, and so shalt thou climb."
Waidudu feared to disobey, and came forth trembling, and put on the hands and feet of Aidagagiogio which he gave him, and began to climb the coco palm. Then was he much afraid, for he had never tried to climb before, and he would have fain come down without going higher, but Aidagagiogio stood beneath with spears many and sharp, and Waidudu was forced to mount to the very top.
There he picked many coconuts and threw them down to the ground, and came down himself. Then Aidagagiogio took back his hands and feet and set about taking the husk from the coconuts. The dalo he cracked, and clasping one in his hands held it high above his head and let the juice flow down his throat until the nut was empty, nor did he close his lips until he had drunk all the dalo which lay there. Then he scraped the flesh of the nuts and ate until his hunger was stayed, and he flung the husks and shells of the coconuts in the doorway of Waidudu's house and departed.
At even the brothers came home, and Waidudu told them what had befallen him. They took counsel together, and then said to Waidudu, "If he comes again go up the tree as he bids thee, but take with thee a conch shell, and when thou art at the top of the tree blow upon it loudly, and we will come and slay this Aidagagiogio. He will not be able to harm thee, for thou wilt be in the tree and he will have no hands or feet wherewith to climb."
So Waidudu did as his brothers had bidden him. On the morrow Aidagagiogio came even as he had done the day before, and called upon Waidudu to pick him dalo that he might drink. And he gave him his hands and feet wherewith to climb. When Waidudu reached the top of the tree he sat there and waited. And Aidagagiogio being very impatient, cried out, "Why tarriest thou? Pick my dalo and throw them down, for I am thirsty."
"Nay," answered Waidudu, "but I will cut them off, and throw them to thee." But this he did not, for he blew loudly upon the conch shell he had brought with him, and waited for his brothers to come as they had promised.
Aidagagiogio heard the voice of the conch shell and was much afraid, for he had neither feet wherewith to escape, nor hands wherewith to fight his enemies, and he called many times to Waidudu to come down and to give him his hands and feet. But Waidudu answered not a word, and presently came the two brothers, who had heard the voice of the conch shell, and they fell upon Aidagagiogio and slew him, and burned his body until there were but ashes remaining. Then came Waidudu down from the tree, and Aidagagiogio being dead, his hands and feet remained with Waidudu, so that he was now like other men, and he and his brothers rejoiced greatly. Now let us roast a yam and break it upon Beia's head, for the tale is done.