Page:Papuan Fairy Tales.djvu/125

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DAKODAKO, THE MAN EATER
85


upon the drum and danced, but not so was his heart glad. Then he cast his drum to the ground saying,

"How is it that, though I have eaten well, the voice of the drum pleaseth me not, and in the dance my feet grow weary?"

As he marvelled at this he thought in his heart, "It is because I have slain a man who is nought to me. But now, let me slay my friend, and surely his flesh will be good eating." And it came to pass that on the morrow he sought for his friend, and slew him with his wooden sword. And his body he cooked in like manner to the body of the stranger. And he also ate of it, as he had done the other, and rose up to dance, beating upon the drum. But ere long he laid down the drum, and cried, "What shall I do that I may find flesh to eat which will gladden my heart? Though I have slain and eaten my friend yet is the voice of the drum but faint in my ear, and my feet are heavy in the dance."

After a time the men of Qamana, in the hills, made them ready to fight the men of Dakodako's tribe. Then was Dakodako glad, for he longed to slay men. Therefore he went forth and fell upon the men of Qamana, with his kinsfolk, and many of the hill men were slain, and the rest fled. Then Dakodako, being hungry, took the body of one of his foes whom he had slain, and made ready his flesh for the pot. And when it was cooked he sat down and ate of it until he could eat no more. And this time when he beat upon the drum its voice was pleasant in his ear, and