[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]
630 MALEKULA changed into a green lizard (nel¢i),' the day following the lizard had become a rat, and on the third day the rat had disappeared and nothing was left. On looking closely he saw that the stones round about had been moved. This surprised him, for no one but himself existed. On searching he came across a woman called Nimanin, who said that she was the clam, and she expressed a desire to marry him. But the Kabat lived alone in his club- house in the sacred place (lagho) at Melpmes, and since she was a woman he could not take her thither. So he built a house for her by the sea and there she remained while he continued to dwell in the laglm. Nimarlin bore him two sons called Mwelnggil Veo and Ravaai} These children never saw their father, for they lived with their mother, and their father was in the logho. They grew up; ï¬Årst they learnt to eat; then to walk on all fours; then to walk upright and at last one day they made bows and arrows, and went about in the bush shooting things. They went about for four days, and on the ï¬Åfth day they came nnbeknnwrl to the logho and saw their father. Not knowing who he was, and believing him to be a stranger, they shot him with two arrows, one piercing either flank. Butwanabaghap knew then that he was going to die, but before his strength left him he spoke to his two sons and said: " Five days from to-day come to me to Namalii reef (the land of the dead) and bring me some red yams ; but remember it must be ï¬Åve days from to-day and no later." Then he died and the ï¬Åve days passed by. On the ï¬Ålth day Ravaai said to his elder brother: " It is time we went and took him the yams." But Mwelnggil Veo answered that Ravaai was a fool, and that it was only the tuurth day. So they remained at home and Went on the following (t-he sixth) day. When they came to their father he asked them saying: " Which day did I tell you to come ? " " On the ï¬Åfth day," replied his elder son, “ Then you have oolne too late, and I cannot come hack to life again. Had you come in ï¬Åve days as I Annther Veriifln or the story runs: " The giant clam now turned LOCO a. woman's head, and later her body appeared. 4 . . The Kuhn! looked nbont nna saw the w<1mu.n, Nirnanin, who desired him." But for this the twn versions are identical eXCopt in theirdegree ui detail. The details or both have been included in the rendering given here since they clearly supplcrnent; each ot;her.—C. ll. w. I Another note mentions two sisters or Mwelnggil Veu and Reveal. Their names urn not reco.rded,but it is said that they married two mon called Laortew nnd Ame! Vengiete. These appear to be Seniang and not Mewun names, and it seems possible that mess unions give mythological sanction to the intermaniflga which is cnseol-nnry between those two districts,-0, H. W.
