Items related to From My Verandah in New Guinea; Sketches and Traditions
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 edition. Excerpt: ... least possible movement of the body. It would be wearisome to relate the every-day superstitions connected with hunting, fishing, &c. I have transcribed the Papalau proceedings in full, as I believe no one has ever succeeded in obtaining the explanation and translation of them before. CHAPTER VI. FAIRY TALES. Story of a Snake and a Young Woman. In former days there dwelt in Hannabada a young girl of great beauty. Many young men were anxious to marry her, as her father was rich, and owned many pigs and much property. Far inland in the bush dwelt a tribe of people who did not know the coast natives, but one of them, a young chief, on a long hunting expedition, had come near to the coast village, and had seen this beautiful girl working in a plantation. He fell in love with her, and determined to marry her; but as he was afraid, if he went into Hannabada, that the people there would kill him, he did not know how to press his suit. In his perplexity he went to the sorcerer of his tribe, and bought a charm from him, by means of which he could turn himself into a snake at pleasure. But the charm had this peculiarity, it was not available in the territory of his own tribe, nor could it take effect until after he had passed the garden in which he had first seen the girl working. In the land belonging to the coast tribe he must remain a snake, but as soon as he repassed his own boundary-line he must assume the form of a man once more. As a snake he would be deprived of speech, but would be enabled to understand the coast dialect. If spoken to, the sorcerer instructed him to wave his tail as an affirmative answer, but to remain quite motionless if he disapproved of the questions asked him. The young chief cheerfully accepted these terms, and paid...
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- PublisherTheClassics.us
- Publication date2013
- ISBN 10 1230312846
- ISBN 13 9781230312842
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages68
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