Page:Papuan Fairy Tales.djvu/141

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KAPIKOA, THE BLACK COCKATOO
99

another fig, and the girl, seeing the design upon it, knew that it had not fallen with the wind, but that someone had thrown it. Therefore she gazed long at the tree, and saw Kapikoa in the branches. Then she called to him, "Come down, I pray thee."

Kapikoa did as she had said, and when he saw how fair she was he loved her, and they were married, and went away together. Then said he, "Now thou art my wife thou must cook my food." The girl took some taro and peeled it and laid it in the sun to become warm. Her husband asked her, "Is there here no fire?"

Then said the girl, "Nay, lord, I know not of what thou speakest." For in her land fire was not known, and food was eaten raw, or was but warmed by the rays of the sun.

Then said Kapikoa, "Bring me hither two pieces of wood," and she brought them and gave them to him. Then he rubbed them together and they smouldered, and he blew on them until they blazed.

Now the girl was afraid when she saw the flames, for she knew not whence they were. But her husband said, "Fear not. Now thou canst cook my food, since I have shown thee how." So the girl made ready taro and cooked it and gave it to her husband, and they both ate of it. And when the meal was eaten, Kapikoa said to his wife, "Behold, now thou knowest how to deal with fire. Therefore thou must ever cook food after this manner." And she did so, and so do all women to this day.