Page:Papuan Fairy Tales.djvu/27

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
HOW THE TURTLE GOT HIS SHELL
7

stone fell upon the right armlet and brake it into small pieces. Again they called, and again the Turtle raised himself in the water, and this time the stones cut in twain the string on which the necklace of shell money was threaded.

And now for the last time came the call, "Show thyself. Lift up thine head." The Turtle once more raised himself and the birds flung after him all the great stones they could find. They fell in scores upon the wooden bowl which had been carried away from Binama's home, but it was not destroyed, nay, nor was it harmed at all. And the Turtle fled far over the sea, nor was he seen again of Binama or his followers. But since that day even until now, so our fathers have told us, all turtles carry upon their back the bowl which in the old days was in the house of Binama.


THE MAN WHO LEFT HEAVEN.

In a certain village lived some men who longed for strings of shell money. So they took counsel together and agreed to go to a far village and there barter store of betel nuts for what their souls desired. They set forth therefore, and in time reached the land where shell money was to be found. Now the village they were in search of was in the hills, and