Papuan Fairy Tales/How Wakeke defeated Arebo

by Annie Ker

HOW WAKEKE DEFEATED AREBO.

This is the tale of how Wakeke, the smallest of snakes, fought with Arebo, the King of the Sea, and prevailed.

Arebo was fierce, and black, and great, and for his food ate only betel nut and pepper leaf, with which he took powdered coral lime out of a gourd by means of a long stick.

One day, a man said to his two sons, "Go down to the bottom of the sea to Arebo, and ask him to give you a gourd for me in which I may bestow my lime." Therefore the lads went, as their father had told them, and dived to the bottom of the sea and sought for Arebo. And when they had found him, they told him their father's words. Then Arebo gave them a gourd and they returned to their father, and gave it to him. But he, looking on it, saw that it was poor, and he shook the lime stick backwards and forwards in it until it rattled loudly. And Arebo heard the sound and forthwith rattled his gourd also, under the sea.

Then said the man again, "Go, my sons, and tell Arebo that he must give me a good gourd, for this one is but poor." And the boys did so. But Arebo was very angry and said, "Would that I might eat your father's liver!" Moreover, he gave them no gourd and drove them from him. As they set out for home the elder said to his brother, "We must not tell our father what Arebo said." "Nay," said the younger, 'but I shall tell." And he went to his father and told him all that Arebo had both done and said. Then was the man exceeding angry, and he thought how he might punish Arebo. So he killed a pig, and cooked it, and sent for the snakes that they might come and help him. And when they were come he fed them with the pig he had cooked and with taro.

Now it befell that Wakeke, who is the smallest of the snakes, sat amongst the others, but was given no portion as were his fellows, for, said they, "He is but small and needs no food." Only Motabawa, the great snake, looking on him, pitied him and wrapped some food in a leaf and passed it to Wakeke when the others saw not the deed.

When the eating was finished, the snakes arose and took wooden swords and launched their canoe, for they were about to fight Arebo. And Wakeke, fearing lest he might be forbidden, coiled himself upon the outrigger. Then did they paddle, and paddle, and paddle, until they floated over the place where dwelt Arebo at the bottom of the sea. And that they might better see him they squeezed coconut milk upon the water and made it calm, and so looked upon Arebo sitting below eating betel nut.

Then one of the snakes took his sword and cast himself into the sea and sought to reach Arebo, that he might cut off his head. But as he was nigh unto him, Arebo rattled his lime spoon against the sides of his gourd and the water bubbled furiously around him, so that the snake was forced upwards and floated upon the sea again, having nothing done.

Then did another try, and yet another, but Arebo ever drove them upwards by the rattling of his gourd, which caused the water to bubble. And now it was the turn of Motabawa. He said to Wakeke, "Now is it my turn to try to kill Arebo. Do thou follow in my wake, and then will he have no time to drive thee upwards." Now Wakeke had no sword as had the others, yet he feared not, and dived as Motabawa was sinking below the sea. Now as Motabawa was forced upwards by the great bubbles of water, Wakeke seized his friend's sword as he rose, and rushed upon Arebo and cut off his head. Nor did he then leave him, for he cut open his body and sought for his liver, which he held in his mouth as he rose. And as he floated on the water he sang his spell,—

"O korotoku Wakeke
Tiritiri remoremo!"

Then were the snakes confounded when they saw what so small a one as Wakeke had done, and they said nothing, but took up their paddles and set out for home, while Wakeke sat upon the canoe as a great chief. It came to pass that as they landed Kokoko, a small fish, saw the liver of Arebo in the mouth of Wakeke and he hasted to tell Matamera, the great fish, what evil fate had befallen Arebo. When Matamera heard he was wroth and called all the fish together to help him take vengeance for the death of Arebo. And when they were come to the shore and knew that Wakeke had already landed, they were not sad, for in those days fish were as well on land as in the sea. Therefore they went forward and would have been soon the conquerors. But Wakeke, who was wise as well as strong, had called to Toda, the bower bird, as he passed, saying, ' Friend, Matamera will by and by pass this way,

for he seeks my life. Let him not pass, I pray thee."

Therefore, as Matamera and his company hasted after Wakeke, Toda, the bower bird, sat upon a tree and cried unto them, and his voice was that of a man. Therefore were the fishes much afraid and would have turned back, but Ladiadi, who ever leapeth in the water, said, "Wait now while I leap high in the air and look if there be any enemy near." Then he leapt but saw nothing, and the fishes went forward. And now were they hard upon Wakeke, and would have slain him, but again Toda cried from his tree, and this time none waited to see who it might be, but all turned and fled to the sea. Thus was Wakeke safe, and he ate the liver of Arebo, and dwelt as a chief all the days of his life.