THE BRUSH TURKEYS.
In a certain village dwelt a man and his wife, whose children were two, a boy and a girl. The father and mother went to the gardens, and the children stayed at home. Before she went away, the mother said to the girl, "Cook some food, and chew it till it is soft. Then feed the dog with it," and she said to the boy, "Take the dog down to the river and give it a bath."
Now the children were angry with their mother, because, when she was leaving, she seemed to be careful only for the dog, not caring for them. And so they were jealous. Therefore the little girl stayed in the house, and her brother took the dog down to the river, and dashed its head against a stone and killed it. Then he brought it back to the house, and the children cooked it in a big earthenware pot. When it was now nearly time for the father and mother to come home, the children thought it best to flee from the village ere they were found out. The little boy climbed a palm, on which grew his father's betel nuts, and he picked a great many of them. Then he came down and filled a leaf basket with them. He also put the dog which they had cooked in another basket, which he slung on his shoulder, and he took the basket of betel nuts and hung it on his little sister's head, so that it lay on her back. Then they left the village, and as they went they sang,
"Aloulo! a dudula,
A nenae."
("Aloulo! we are offended,
We are going away.")
Now when the father and mother came back they called to the children, but there was no voice to answer them. And they searched for long, but found them not, nor the dog, which the woman loved. And she was much grieved for that the dog was gone, yet after a time, she cared not for it, but mourned only for the children who returned not. Now when the children left the village they journeyed until they came to a mountain, and the girl climbed it, but the boy went on till he had rounded the cape. Then was each turned into a brush turkey.
Now when they were thus changed, though they became birds, yet were their wings weak, nor could they fly well. Therefore it is so that when a brush turkey makes its nest, it heaps up leaves and earth on the ground, and lays its eggs there.
And this mayest thou see for thyself, amongst the trees of Mulawa.