Papuan Fairy Tales/Why the Men of Gavi will not eat Fish
WHY THE MEN OF GAVI WILL NOT EAT FISH.
I will tell thee now wherefore thou must never offer fish to a man of Gavi, be it never so large and good.
In the old days a man from that village went forth to hunt, and companion had he none save his dog. But though he walked far yet found he nought to kill save one wallaby. And it came to pass that as he walked he came upon a lake whose shores were round, and whose waters teemed with many fish. The name of the lake was Wapogi, and at the bottom lived the magic eel, Abaia. But this the man knew not, and when his dog reached the water and caught a fish in his mouth, the man feared not, but was glad to see so many fish. Yet he caught none himself, but, marking where the lake lay, he returned home. Then he roasted the wallaby and he and his
WHY THE MEN OF GAVI WILL NOT EAT FISH.
To face p. 52.
But on the morrow he said to the people of Gavi, "If ye will come with me I will show you where are many fish." Then were the people glad, and they made ready to go with him. They took taro, bananas, plantains, and sugarcane for their journey food, and they bade the little children stay quietly in the village till they should come back with fish for them. Then they went forth, the man who had seen the lake leading the way.
When they were at the lake they laid down their food and bags in which were betel nut and lime gourds. Then women took their qadi, or hand nets, and began to fish. They caught many fish and prawns and eels, and as they caught them they laid them in heaps on the shore. And one woman, being more skilful than her fellows, laid hold on Abaia, the magic eel, but was not able to continue her hold, for Abaia, being very slippery, slid from out her hands. And now came the evening, when all rested. Yet had the eels not rested. All the small and young ones which were not caught, at the word of Abaia, carried the tidings of their foes to all the rivers, and led the Water Spirits to Wapogi as the night fell, that they might bring punishment upon the heads of the fishers.
Now it came to pass that the people of Gavi had eaten, and were now ready to fish once more. The men had made little wooden platforms, on which they laid the fish they could not eat, and had lit fires underneath that they might smoke them. They therefore remained by the fires, while the women took torches of dry grass and sought for fish in the lake.
But it befell that a dark rain-cloud hung over their heads, and great and heavy was the rain which fell. And, moreover, as the rain fell so did the waters of the lake rise until the flood was over all the land, and the people of Gavi were drowned in the place where they fished. Nor did any of their number escape save one only, and she an old woman. And the cause of her life being spared was this.
It so chanced that, being a witch, she had seen that the fish which had been caught were not common fish, but belonged to Abaia, the magic eel. Therefore she ate not, nor would she suffer her two dogs to eat, for she held them tightly in her arms. Nevertheless one struggled with her and snatched a fishbone from the ground, and swallowed it ere she could forbid him. Thus sat the dame under a tree at even, and watched the women as they fished. But when the rain was now heavy and the waters of the lake were rising, she made haste to climb into a tree, ever holding fast her two dogs and also a fire stick which she had picked up from the ground. But though she climbed fast, the waters rose quickly, and when she reached the top they were but just below her. This she knew though it was dark, for she knocked the fire stick against the tree until the sparks fell and went out at once as they touched the flood.
Now she knew that if the waters rose higher she must perforce be drowned, therefore she bethought her what she might do. And she remembered that one of the dogs had eaten a fish bone before she could hinder him, and she thought that for that reason perhaps the angry Abaia would cause her death. Therefore she cast the dog from her into the water below, and the flood rose no higher, for neither she nor the other dog had tasted of the fish of Wapogi.
After a time the old woman knocked her fire stick again until sparks fell from it, and this time she knew that the waters were sinking, for the sparks fell on the leaves of Indian corn which grew below, and shone for a moment. And she waited and did as she had done before, and this time the sparks fell to the ground and died not at once. Therefore she knew that the flood was over. Yet she came not down from the tree until the day had fully dawned. And when she came down to the ground she saw that the waters of the lake were dancing in the sun, and waves rose up and down. Then said the woman, to the waters, "Ah! well may ye dance since ye have slain all my people. But let me know for certain that they are indeed dead." Then the waves grew bigger and the waters danced yet more, and on a sudden uprose the feet of all the people of Gavi who had been drowned in the lake, and the woman knew that her people were dead of a truth.
And she put her dog on the ground and hasted back to Gavi, and the dog ran in front, for he also was afraid.
Now it came to pass that when the woman drew near to the village the children came forth to meet her, and cried, "Where are our parents? How is it that thou alone art come?"
Then the woman, not willing to cause them pain, said, "They tarry until they have smoked the fish which they have caught." Then she went into her house and took her great string bag, and forthwith came out to the children once more saying, "Little ones, where are your ornaments and weapons?" But the children cried, "Ah, dame, why dost thou take our things? Leave them with us, we pray thee." But the old woman said, "Nay, little ones, I do but take care of them for you." And she went into each house, and put all things which were precious in her bag, and placed it in her house.
Now the children waited for their parents to return until two nights had past, and then they feared that ill had befallen them, therefore they came to the old woman, saying, "Dame, tell us for what cause our parents have not returned to us these three days."
Then the woman, seeing that the truth could no longer be hid, told them what had befallen their parents and all the people of Gavi. And the children wept sore and would not be comforted for a long time. Then they went to the gardens and brought in food and cooked it and made a death feast, and thus honoured the memory of their kinsfolk. And 
MANUBADA'S BRIDE.
To face p. 57.
the old woman cared for them all and they grew and were strong, and after some years they married, and children were born to them, and people were many in Gavi as they had been before Abaia had slain those who fished in the waters of Wapogi. But though they are now thus many, yet must none of them draw near to the shores of the lake or will vengeance fall upon them as it did on their parents of old. And for this cause also do the men of Gavi eat of flesh meat, but never of fish, be their hunger what it may. And they do well, for Abaia is indeed great, and who knoweth the power which lieth in magic?