Papuan Fairy Tales/Dakodako, the Man Eater

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4091376Papuan Fairy Tales — Dakodako, the Man EaterAnnie Ker

DAKODAKO, THE MAN EATER.

There was once a man named Dakodako, who ever hungered for flesh to eat. When the others ate pig or wallaby he ate, but was not satisfied as were they. And he daily bethought him where he might look for flesh meat which he might eat and therewith be filled.

Thus it befell that one day he lay in wait on the path, and slew a man, a stranger passing to another village, as he walked. Then he took his body and cut it up, and laid the pieces in a great earthenware pot, and cooked them over the fire.

When the flesh was cooked he sat down and ate of it till he could eat no more. Then rising up he said, "I will beat upon the drum and dance, for that I have eaten flesh meat which satisfieth."

Therefore he did even as he had said. He beat
A man in a loincloth with a long spear standing over the prostrate body of another.

DAKODAKO, THE MAN EATER.

To face p. 84.

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 his feet were light in the dance and grew not weary.

Therefore he ceased, for he had found what he had sought for so long, and he stood over the body of a slain enemy, one foot being on either side of the body, and cried, "Oh, my people, flesh meat is good indeed, but what can compare with the flesh of an enemy?" Then was he turned into stone, as also was the body of the slain man, and they remain to this day on the hillside of Qamana, that all men may know how great a man was Dakodako and how true are the words which he spake.