Papuan Fairy Tales/The Mud People
THE MUD PEOPLE.
In the old days men lived not in houses, but dwelt in caves and holes in the ground, for none knew how they might fashion a shelter which would keep out rain and sun.
Now it came to pass that two men talking idly together agreed to attempt to build some shelter on the face of the earth where their families might dwell safe from sun and rain, and nevertheless live in the light of day and not in the dark earth as heretofore.
They therefore arose and each went his way, neither did either see the face of other until the work was accomplished. Then came one and said to his fellow, "Come, let us go now and I will show thee the house I have fashioned."
And they went both together until they came to where the man had built his house, and behold, it was a fair sight indeed. For the man had taken of the long grass which is called rei, and had woven it thickly upon a frame of sticks, so that no ray of sun nor drop of rain might pierce the roof or walls of his house. But the other looking upon it saw that it was better than his own, and set about to decry it, that it might be worthless in the eyes of him who had built it.
"This then is thy shelter, brother," quoth he. "It were better for thee and thine to dwell therein than for me and mine. For I should fear greatly lest perchance the sharp rei should enter my eye, and so blind me. Moreover, it must needs be that it will prick thy skin and cause a rash to rise upon it. But come now," he said, turning away, "and I will show thee mine."
So they went together to see the other house. Now it was, in truth, but a sorry place, for its builder had taken handfuls and plastered it over the light sticks he had placed in the ground. And the man who had built his house of rei spake thus, saying, "What wilt thou do, brother, when the rains come?"
"I fear no rain," quoth the other proudly, and bade his family enter the mud house and dwell therein. Then did the other man depart unto his own house, for he was vexed that his words had borne no fruit. And he sat therein and pondered much what he might do in order that the other might know he had spoken wisely. And as much thought is the mother of deeds, in the morning he set out for the mountain where the great lake spirit dwelt. And there, using his spells, he besought Apogi to send forth his waters and to cause rain to fall upon the earth. Then he went back to his house and sat therein, and waited to see if Apogi would hear his prayer or no.
Not long had he to tarry, for the sun was yet high in the heaven when the rain clouds hid it from the eyes of men, and heavy was the rain which fell, and the man's heart was glad, for he knew that Apogi had done this.
Now it had been but an idle vaunt of the man who dwelt in the house of mud that he feared no rain, for indeed his heart trembled within him as great drops fell and his walls began to crumble. Nevertheless he sat on and did not stir until his wife besought him to seek some place of shelter for their little ones, who were wailing at their mother's knees. Then he rose up, and taking his family with him he left the house, and it was now but a frame of sticks, for the mud lay upon the ground in a pool of water. And the children cried aloud as they followed after their father, who led them to the house which was built of rei.
Now it came to pass that the man who had built his house of rei looked forth and saw them as they drew nigh in the rain. And he hardened his heart, and closed the doorway of his house and waited to hear what the man who had trusted in mud would say. And he, having come, beat upon the closed doorway, and cried, "Open to me, brother, and let us in, for the rain is great and my children weep without."
"Nay, brother," answered he from within the house. "How may I dare to do such a thing? Will not the sharp rei enter thine eye and blind thee? Or perchance it will prick the skin of thy children and cause a rash to rise upon it." Thus was the man met with his own words, and had nought wherewith to make answer. Sad was his plight and that of his wife and children as they turned away, and the wife of the man who had built the house of rei looking on them pitied them, and besought her husband to give them shelter. He therefore, not wishing to displease his wife, opened up the doorway, and bade then enter. The man who had built his house of mud was sad of heart as he sat in shelter, and his head cooled with shame as he thought of his empty boast. When therefore the rain ceased, he set himself with speed to build a house like unto his neighbour's, and from that day even until now is mud contemned and our houses built of rei as it was in the beginning.