Papuan Fairy Tales/The Mouse and the Butterfly
THE MOUSE AND THE BUTTERFLY.
Thou hast asked for a tale, so I will tell thee one of the days when the animals were all "bariawa," and spake and acted even as men do now.
In the times of which I tell thee, it so befell that the Mouse and the Butterfly made a canoe. They hollowed it out with their stone axes, and fastened a great outrigger to it. Then they launched it, and set out for the islands, that they might there seek for food.
But alas! not far had they gone when the canoe came apart, and the two on board were struggling in the water. The fur on the back and sides of the Mouse was sorely bedraggled, and the Butterfly's wings were heavy with water. Yet were they not faint at heart, and after a time they reached the shore. There they bethought them where they might seek food, for what they had brought was now at the bottom of the sea.
"Let us eat sugarcane," said the Mouse.
"Nay," answered the Butterfly sharply. "Bananas are best, and we must search for them."
"That will I never do," said the Mouse. "I go now to the sugarcane patch, and will eat my fill there."
And thus did he. The Butterfly, left alone, searched until he found bananas which were ripe, and ate. But while he ate, he heard a cry from afar, "Kaidara kiki!"
"Surely that is the voice of my friend," said he in his heart, and, tarrying not, he left his meal to seek for the Mouse, whose voice had called him.
Now this is what had befallen the Mouse. He had found a large patch of sugarcane, and had begun to bite the tough stalks and to suck out the sweet juice. So was his heart gladdened, but at last he bit through a stalk of heavy cane, which fell on him and crushed him. It was his death-cry his friend had heard. The Butterfly found the Mouse lying dead on the ground, and could now only make him ready for burial. This he did by plucking a taro leaf, and wrapping his friend in it. Then he set forth for the burial ground, bearing the Mouse.
He soon reached the gardens where the birds grew their food. Some small Finches were turning over the ground, and looked up as the Butterfly drew near. "What hast thou there?" said they.
"Nought for which ye would care," said the Butterfly, and he passed on. But he had not gone far ere he reached the place where the Wagtails were digging. Then did they ask the same question, and the Butterfly gave the same answer, and went on. Then he passed through the Cockatoos' plantation, and after that the Hornbills', and was asked and answered in the same manner.
By this time the Butterfly was weary, and hoped that he would meet no one else. But he was still some distance from the burying ground when he met a great Hawk. Then said the Hawk in a harsh voice, "What hast thou wrapped up there?"
"Nought for which thou woudlst care, my lord," said the Butterfly, and his voice was small with fear.
"Nay, but I will judge of that," said the Hawk, and he swooped down upon the bundle which the Buttertlv carried. Then the bird flew up into a tree, and, seating hmiself there, ate the dead Mouse in a mouthful.
But the Butterfly did not tarry to see what would befall. He made haste to find his brother, who was older and stronger than he. And when he had found him he cried, "Bring thy sling with thee, brother," and together the two Butterflies sped to where the Hawk was still sitting on the bough of the tree.
The Butterrly's brother waited not. He placed a stone in his sling, and whirling it round his head let fly at the Hawk. The great bird tell to the ground, and was dead. Then the two Butterflies, having avenged the dishonour done to the dead. body of the Mouse, returned home.