Papuan Fairy Tales/The Two Lizards
PAPUAN FAIRY TALES
THE TWO LIZARDS
In the old days there lived two lizards, Webubu and Nagari. Webubu was plain of speech, and moreover was unable to cry aloud, but Nagari, by stretching his long neck, could produce a sweet low sound, somewhat after the manner of a whistle.
Nagari longed for companions, so he stretched his neck, and cried, "U-u-u-u-u." Then many women, hearing the sweet sound, flocked to where Nagari sat, and listened to his music. This pleased Nagari, and he continued to sound his long note. "U-u-u-u-u," he sang, and the women sat so still, one might have thought them dead or sleeping. (Thou hast asked for a tale, and I am telling it.)
Webubu, on the contrary, had no one to cheer him in his loneliness. "What can I do," he said, "to draw women to me as Nagari has done? I have not a sweet voice as he has. What can I do?"
As he was speaking a thought grew up in his heart, and he began to act. He cut a slim piece of hollow bamboo, and pierced small holes in it. Thus was the first duraio or flute born.
Webubu then built himself a platform high in a corkwood tree, which we call "tioba," on the beach, and seating himself there, he began to play his duraio.
The women sat patiently round Nagari while he sounded his one note "U-u-u." But on a sudden, upon the still air, broke the sweet voice of Webubu's duraio. (Thou hast asked of me a tale, therefore I tell it.)
High and sweet were the notes which Webubu sent forth from his duraio.
"M! m!" said the listening women.
"U-u-u-u," sang Nagari.
"Ah, ss-ss-ss!" cried the women. "Deafen us not with thine 'U,' when we would fain hear this strange music!"
Nagari was much troubled at this saying, and marvelled greatly. Then one woman made bold to rise up, and saying, "I shall return," she went to seek the sweet music. Now this woman lied, for she never returned.
After a time, another woman arose, and said, "Stay here, my friends; I shall return." Then she went in like manner to look for the music. And she also lied, for she returned not. And so with each woman, until Nagari was left sitting alone as he had been at the beginning.
Now Webubu was still playing his duraio on the platform he had built in the tioba tree, when the women came in sight. He was alarmed for the safety of his frail platform, when he saw these many people advancing, and he cried, "Come not up into the tree. Remain below, I beseech you. O women!"
But the women were consumed with eagerness to be close to the music which had taken their hearts, and they climbed, all of them, until they were upon the platform of Webubu.
Then straightway what he had feared came to pass, and Webubu, and his duraio, and the multitude of women fell crashing through the branches of the tioba to the ground beneath.
And from that hour until now, all tioba trees lean towards the earth, as I will show thee, if thou wilt go with me to the beach where they grow.