Plot summary
This song narrates the tale of a young boy on a quest to prove himself by conquering rival tribes. He succeeds in defeating these tribes and seeks acknowledgment from his adoptive mother. However, his mother is unimpressed by his conquests and would rather have him stay at home tending to the pigs and the garden. The boy's mother shares a tragic story with him about a young boy who killed a pregnant woman and cut her belly to take her baby. This boy then wrapped the baby in banana leaves and gave it to a woman who adopted him. This baby grows into a young man but rebels against his adoptive family's expectations, refusing to tend to their pigs or build a house to find a wife.
After hearing his adoptive mother's story, the boy overhears a conversation between his adoptive parents. His adoptive father confesses that he was the person who killed the pregnant woman, and that the boy is, in fact, their adopted child. Feeling betrayed, the young man takes his father's axe and departs.
During his travels, he encounters a hospitable man who welcomes him into his home. This man's wife recognizes him and treats him kindly and familiarly. It then emerges that this new family is, in fact, his true family. His new family assists him in building a house and provides support for his fresh start. The pigs he once raised at his old home now reside with his real family, along with a bag of pearl shells for his bride price.
After hearing his adoptive mother's story, the boy overhears a conversation between his adoptive parents. His adoptive father confesses that he was the person who killed the pregnant woman, and that the boy is, in fact, their adopted child. Feeling betrayed, the young man takes his father's axe and departs.
During his travels, he encounters a hospitable man who welcomes him into his home. This man's wife recognizes him and treats him kindly and familiarly. It then emerges that this new family is, in fact, his true family. His new family assists him in building a house and provides support for his fresh start. The pigs he once raised at his old home now reside with his real family, along with a bag of pearl shells for his bride price.
Play the audio of this tale
Select your reading language
1.
kang mel we mel kaniyl e
2.
kang mai pup yaka nyirim e
3.
kang komunga mong yaka nyirim e
4.
ukuni yabu tobu midi nyirim e
5.
kobulka yabu tobu midi nyirim
6.
kang mel we mel kaniyl e
7.
kang piditap mel kaniyl e
8.
pilyini kub nai-ko nyirim e
9.
kanuni kub nai-ko nyirim e
10.
kang mai pup yaka nyirim
11.
kobulka yabu tokur midi nyirim e
12.
minabi yabu tokur midi nyirim e
13.
kang mel we mel kaniyl e
14.
pilyini kub nai-ko nyirim e
15.
kanuni kub nai-ku nyirim
16.
dala lyipa kum midi turum e
17.
tibun lyipa kom midi turum e
18.
gaima lyipa aipa midi turum
19.
kang mel we mel kaniyl e
20.
kumuduka yab tobu midi nyirim e
21.
tamuduka yab tobu midi nyirim
22.
turum turum turung-ayl-ko mirim e
23.
gaima lyipa aipa midi turum e
24.
kang mel we mel kaniyl
25.
kang mai komunga mel kaniyl e
26.
kang mai pup yaka nyirim e
27.
kang komunga mong yaka nyirim e
28.
pilyini-kub nai-ko nyirim
29.
kanuni-mel nai-ko nyirim e
30.
kang mel we mel kaniyl
31.
turum turum turung-ayl ko mirim e
32.
meba adapa lku-d midi urum e
33.
pilyini kub nai ko nyirim e
34.
kanuni kub nai nyirim e
35.
kang mel we mel kaniyl e
36.
meba meba lku-d midi urum e
37.
anum ab we mel kaniyl e
38.
aba kuipa rolipa midi ngurum e
39.
aba kalapa kik midi tirim e
40.
molupa kanapa kelipa midi purum
41.
kang mel we mel kaniyl e
42.
kang mel kupada mel mirim e
43.
mepa ya lku midi urum
44.
nu nanga ama nyib kanakur e
45.
nu kang nabi teda nyirim e
46.
na molup kit pilyikir nyirim
47.
nu kanap kit pilyikir nyirim
48.
kang mel we mel kaniyl e
49.
nu nanga ma nyibu tekir
50.
Kobulka yab tokur midi nyirim e
51.
Minabi yab tokur midi nyirim e
52.
pilyini kub nai-ko nyirim e
53.
kanuni kub nai-ko nyirim e
54.
kang mel we mel kaniyl e
55.
pilyini kub nai-ko e
56.
tibun topa kum midi turum e
57.
dala lyipa kum midi turum e
58.
kang mel we mel kaniyl e
59.
kang mai pup yaka nyirim e
60.
kang komunga mong yaka nyirim
61.
ab anum mel kaniyl nyiba-e
62.
kang lyikin nu pilyi si nyirim e
63.
nunga kanu kung mel kanuma
64.
ati top kis pilyikir nyirim e
65.
kangaylnga ab lyinsabiyl nyirim
66.
nu punya kongun ti nyirim e
67.
nu lku ab lku takui nyirim e
68.
nu punya kongun ti nyirim
69.
kang mel we mel kaniyl e
70.
anum ab we kaniyl nyirim e
71.
nu ab taka nyikin molui
72.
nu na tid mel kanain e
73.
nyiba kanapa kelipa midi purum e
74.
pilyipa kanapa kelipa midi purum
75.
kang mel we mel kaniyl e
76.
kang abola nu mel kaniyl e
77.
yabu tok mudupa midi tirim e
78.
pilyini kub nai ko nyirim e
79.
kanuni kub nai ko nyirim e
80.
kang mel we mel kaniyl
81.
yabu topa mudurum kolya kanuma e
82.
yabu langi wapra lyimulu nyiring e
83.
yab oba kelipa midi purum e
84.
yab kanapa kelipa midi purum e
85.
yab mel we mel
86.
aba te midi urum e
87.
kangabola mujuyl midi urum e
88.
pilyini kub nai ko nyirim
89.
aba kubi lepa kanapa lyirim e
90.
lui-ne olu tulipi turum
91.
olu tulupi topa mudupa kanurum e
92.
manya kangabola-te lirim e
93.
taua burltap mel kaniyl lyirim e
94.
kumu topa mirim kang we mel
95.
kang mel we mel kaniyl
96.
kumu topa meba midi urum e
97.
mepa yu-na lku-d midi urum e
98.
pilyini kub nai ko nyirim e
99.
kanuni kub nai ko nyirim -e
100.
mepa oba anum midi sirim e
101.
anum lyi-puba kumayl tirim mel e
102.
anum-ne nabola mel nyirim e
103.
ij nu pilke tokun kanui e
104.
nyiba kanapa kelipa midi purum e
105.
kang mel kaniyl lyi-oba tirim e
106.
yunu tepa auntipa mepa e
107.
adarum kang au mel lirim
108.
pilyini kub nai ko nyirim e
109.
kanuni kub nai ko nyirim e
110.
kang mel we mel kaniyl
111.
kanga tepa mepa adarum e
112.
kang yi komidupu -mel molurum -e
113.
kang mel we mel kaniyl -e
114.
pilyini kub nai-ko nyirim e
115.
kanuni kub nai -ko nyirim
116.
lapa mel yi mel kaniyl e
117.
kang ung kum naa lirim e
118.
kang komunga mong yaka nyirim e
119.
kang mai pup yaka nyirim e
120.
kabolka yab tokur midi nyirim e
121.
minabi yab tokur midi nyirim e
122.
kang mel we mel kaniyl e
123.
anum-nga ung kum naa lirim e
124.
mal-nga ung kum naa lirim
125.
kang mel we mel kaniyl e
126.
nyiba kanapa kelipa midi purum e
127.
kang pilyipa kelipa midi mulurum e
128.
kang mel we mel kaniyl e
129.
kang pilyipa kum midi sirim
130.
kang pilyipa kelipa midi purum
131.
kung ati tokur ko nyirim e
132.
kung ama kapu-ma pekim e
133.
nyiba mel kelipa midi purum
134.
anum ab we kaniyl-n nyiba e
135.
kung pilyip kelipa ati tokur-ko nyirim e
136.
kung okun lku takui nyirim
137.
nunga punya kongun ti nyirim e
138.
pilyipa kelipa midi ko purum e
139.
kang mel we mel kaniyl e
140.
kang bikhet mel tirim
141.
kung aima kung puluyl molurum e
142.
kung kanuma ab lyibulu nyiringl e
143.
kang kel kaniyl-kin pedipa e
144.
eltelteli pel molul midi puringl e
145.
pilyini kub nai ko nyirim e
146.
de tenga adapa lku-d urum e
147.
kaniku anum-n ti stori tirim e
148.
anum-n molupa kalipa kalipa nyirim e
149.
kung aima tok kelkimil nyirim
150.
kung kanuma pora nyiba kel-ku e
151.
nu kung tap ti nyirim e
152.
nu lku uj sukului nyirim e
153.
nu ena tenga midi ya lku suku molui midi
154.
nyiba kelipa purum e
155.
pilyini kub nai ko nyirim
156.
kung ati tokur kung ma tok kelkimil
157.
kang kung tap ti nyiba kang kani
158.
pilyini kub nai ko nyirim e
159.
kanuni kub nai ko nyirim e
160.
anum-tal ati tok moluringl e
161.
kung te-tal nyiba pora nyiba kelipa midi purum e
162.
kana kanga
163.
kang mel weyl mel kaniyl e
164.
kung tal midi muluringl e
165.
i de tenga kung-ti turing e
166.
i kung-ti kung de tenga turing e
167.
kung kanuma pora nyiba kilim nyiba
168.
anum mel we mel kaniyl
169.
adapa adapa lku-d urum kani-kin
170.
nu-nga kung lku kanuma pora nyiba
171.
kilim kung ekapu ti naa molym
172.
nyiba kanapa kelipa midi purum
173.
kang mel we mel kaniyl e
174.
lapa oba lku-d midi purum
175.
yunu ung muru tikim mola e
176.
mola we kuni nyikim nyiba e
177.
lku tubula kani-na pena-d kani-na midi mulurum a
178.
molupa molupa kanapa-ko purum e
179.
molupa pilyipa midi molurum a
180.
kang i tepa adurum kangalya anum i tirim-e
181.
ilyi-kin lui-n-e
182.
olu lubisip mudurud e
183.
kaniyl pilyikim mola mola-ja
184.
nyiba midi kelipa midi purum
185.
kang kaniyl kola tirim tirim a
186.
kola tepa kumayl ko mirim a
187.
pilyini kub nai ko nyirim e
188.
kanuni kub nai ko nyirim e
189.
upuluyl kang uru midi pirim e
190.
wi tangapa boy mel nyirim e
191.
lapa-nga lui kaniyl lirim a
192.
lyipa kaniyl lalyipa midi mirim a
193.
kang kaniyl ama midi purum a
194.
pui kolya tena pubu-da nyiba
195.
numanalyn pilyipa midi purum a
196.
kola ti tepa midi purum a
197.
pilyini kub nai-ko nyirim a
198.
kang oba kolipa midi purum a
199.
urum a
200.
oba midi purum a
201.
i urum urum urum urum
202.
ya urum urum urum urum a
203.
kupula mel tul mel lirim e
204.
oba pilyipa kelipa midi urum
205.
oba kanapa kelipa midi urum-e
206.
oba olkula-mel-a ena pub a
207.
pora midi nyirim
208.
ena faiv kilok mel a
209.
pirim kanu medipulu ola
210.
mai mong ama mai mong kanina
211.
mai mong kanina molupa pilyirim mel
212.
kolya ena pora nyirim
213.
na pubu tena pubu-ja nyiba
214.
numan lyipa mudupa midi molurum a
215.
kang pilyipa kelipa midi mulurum
216.
molupa mel kanarum mel a
217.
manya uj punya pok ti pirim
218.
tipu mel ikilya urum
219.
ilya-nga yabu pekim-lum-a
220.
nyiba a
221.
mongayl kanarum
222.
aima pilyipa kelipa midi urum a
223.
manya oba kanurum-mel-e
224.
manya kupulanum kiya kiya mel ti lirim a
225.
akina manya yad oba kanurum mel-a
226.
yi ti mulurum-a
227.
yi tipu ikilyi mudipa mulurum a
228.
punya topa kona midi kalurum a
229.
tilupu ti kalipa pensipa mulurum a
230.
Kang mel we mel kaniyla
231.
yunu kanapa kelipa midi urum a
232.
yi-mel kaniyl-na wi kan kang kaniyl urum
233.
nu kang tena puni ta nyiba kanglpa
234.
kangl mulurum kang kaniyl nyiba mel kana a
235.
tena a na nanu pubu nyib udiyla
236.
ya tipu ikilya um kanap-a
237.
na ya sukud okur-ayl
238.
nu tipu kalka molun polu-na
239.
ud-lum nyiba kelipa purum
240.
i nu papu mel un a
241.
ekepu midi peabiyl a nyirim a
242.
kang mel we mel kaniyl
243.
yiyl kaniyl nyirim kin kang kaniyl
244.
numan-mel ti mel tirim
245.
numan tipa mudupa-kin kana
246.
yi kaniyl widi-wid mel kanurum a
247.
pilyini kub nai ko nyirim
248.
kanuni kub nai ko nyirim e
249.
ya lku kauwu nyiba pilyirim-kin
250.
lku kayi we mel te angalyirim
251.
lapaly lku tul kaniyl angalyirim a
252.
pilyini kub nai ko nyirim
253.
ola mudup kanikir de nyiba tirim a
254.
ab puruyl we te mulurum a
255.
langi koipa pedipa midi mulurum a
256.
nu nanga ma nyib tekir e
257.
nu tekin tin mel nariya
258.
nyiba kanapa kelipa midi purum a
259.
pilyini kub nai ko nyirim a
260.
kang mel we mel kaniyl-n a
261.
na-ngu ab ma nyibu tekir e
262.
nyiba kanapa kelipa midi purum
263.
langi kanuma borupa midi purum-a
264.
me kep koipa ko purum
265.
mide kep koipa ko purum a
266.
tauwa kep koipa ko purum
267.
kung kep koipa ko purum a
268.
borupa borupa maka turum a
269.
yi lapa mal tal kanapa
270.
elti langi ima naly nyiba
271.
ab mel we mel kani
272.
yu nu nu kanapa-ko mulurum-a
273.
kang kan lang kanuma nurum a
274.
ab a we mel kaniyl a
275.
nok nok poradik molka a
276.
kang kanu walsiringl mel a
277.
nu tena puni un yo nyiringl-a
278.
na nanu i tep pubu nyib ud-iyl-a
279.
lapa-n ung mura tim-kin
280.
amanya top tauwu burltap kumu top
281.
meb urud kaniyl-ka yunu-nga kung
282.
kung-wa kung tap naa tid nyiba
283.
yunu ung mura ilyi-mel tepa tim nyiba
284.
yabu kanusil stori tepa tirim a
285.
i nyiba kai we munsum a
286.
ekepu nu oltoto ilyinga peamiyl a
287.
oltolto kawu pelybolu nyiringl
288.
nyiba kanapa kelipa midi purum a
289.
kang mel we mel kani
290.
nunga ekepu lku takadang
291.
ultuku lku ponga tudaing nyiring a
292.
kang mel we mel kani
293.
pilyiba mel kanapa mel purum e
294.
kang mel uj-kin lyip wakajabiyl pabul nyik
295.
manya no wang mel kanina puring
296.
kuwang punya-ma keril karil nyiba lirim e
297.
kang mel we mel kaniyl e
298.
uj ilyi-nga ulsuku taini nyirim
299.
ulsuku-nga tobu-ko nyiba
300.
numanalyn pilyipa ko urum a
301.
yi mari-n tuku oba kuwang punya ma
302.
lui-n bulubal tirim a
303.
topa topa ketipa topa mudupa
304.
ekepu lku takuba-lum nyibe-e
305.
kanapa midi kelipa midi purum e
306.
oba ulsalamui oba kanurum a
307.
ya topa ketipa midi turung a
308.
pilyipa midi kanapa midi purum
309.
uj kaniyl tung-lum nyirim-a
310.
kangayl yununu numanayl-n pilyipa
311.
yi ma nabitily yi-mari
312.
nanga lku takansing e
313.
yununga numan pilyipa midi urum e
314.
kang mel we mel kaniyl-na
315.
ponga midi tal kom lirim e
316.
lyipa oba lku takuba kolya kani
317.
lyipa oba notipa midi purum a
318.
pilyini kub nai-ko nyirim
319.
ultulamui lku takubu nyirim e
320.
ponga kanuma kingidiring maku-ma molurum
321.
wilyi kolya kurlta lek muduk
322.
ponga polkuk muduring mel lirim e
323.
ulsalamui ob kanikir nyiba tirim
324.
ya lku ponga polkuk muduring a
325.
kang mel we mel kaniyl-n a
326.
numan kayi we ti tirim
327.
pilyini kob nai ko nyirim e
328.
kanuni kob nai ko nyirim e
329.
ulsulamu ob kanikir nyiba tirim a
330.
wi takupa angbu lyipa purum a
331.
pilyini kub nai ko nyirim a
332.
kanuni kub nai ko nyirim
333.
kang mel we mel kaniyl e
334.
ulsulamui ob kanakir nyiba tirim
335.
kung pala urum urum urum a
336.
wi keripulna peka topa mulurum a
337.
kang mel we mel kaniyl a
338.
pilyini kub nai ko nyirim
339.
ulsulamunga ob kanakir nyiba tirim a
340.
kapu punya-ma pala-na pepa urum a
341.
urum urum urum urum pala-na
342.
kiril-karil nyiba urum
343.
akilynga we mel kaniyl a
344.
kang mel we mel kaniyl a
345.
kung ma kanikir nyiba tirim
346.
ne yununga kung ati turum a
347.
kung akuma kubi kulyuwu kanapa
348.
porajipa kanapa kelipa midi purum e
349.
pilyini kub nai ko nyirim
350.
anum lapa tal nyikil e
351.
nu kang lupu te nyik pilyini e
352.
nu oltunga miribul kang yiyl
353.
ekapu oltoto tukud un nyiringl e
354.
nunga kung kapo id kanui
355.
nunga sumuly wal id kanui
356.
ab lyini nabolkul tin a
357.
nunga mel-ma ya ilyi-nga lelym e
358.
nu oltulu ya molubul-na un a
[CHANTING ENDS HERE AND NOMA CONTINUES WITH ORDINARY INTONATION]
359.
papu un nyikl
360.
amamat tiringl
361.
kangayl-nga ab lyidiringl pi nabolka ul tiring
362.
ul akumel tiring nyikir kan kil id tukur-kil top short fela tejikr-kin
363.
na ekap mada tokur i nyikir
1.
Though the tiniest slip of a lad
2.
That boy strode from perch to perch
3.
That boy strode from mountain to mountain
4.
He wanted to slay the Ukuni
5.
He wanted to slay the Kobulka
6.
Though the tiniest slip of lad
7.
Who’d been ignored since the day he was born
8.
And who’s ever heard such a tale?
9.
And who’s ever seen such a thing?
10.
That boy strode from perch to perch
11.
The Kobulka tribe he would slaughter
12.
The Minyabi tribe he would slaughter
13.
Though the tiniest slip of lad
14.
And who’s ever heard such a tale?
15.
And who’s ever seen such a thing?
16.
With long dala spear in hand
17.
And pronged tibun spear in hand
18.
Strong gaima axe on his shoulder
19.
That tiniest slip of a lad
20.
Would kill all the Kumuduka too
21.
And kill all the Tamuduka too
22.
He struck till his weapons grew blunt
23.
Strong gaima axe on his shoulder
24.
That tiniest slip of a lad
25.
Was just like a mountain himself
26.
That boy strode from perch to perch
27.
That boy strode from mountain to mountain
28.
And who’s ever heard such a tale?
29.
And who’s ever seen such a thing?
30.
That tiniest slip of a lad
31.
Had struck till his weapons grew blunt
32.
Then he brought them back to his house
33.
And who’s ever heard such a tale?
34.
And who’s ever seen such a thing?
35.
That tiniest slip of a lad
36.
Just brought them back to his house
37.
And there stood his substitute mother
38.
She’d just put some food in to roast
39.
She’d left some to bake in the embers
40.
He just looked it all over and left
41.
That tiniest slip of a lad
42.
Who’d borne away all his spears
43.
And brought them back there to his house
44.
"Can I really regard you as mother?"
45.
"Well what kind of a boy are you?"
46.
He said he was tired of being there
47.
She said "I’m tired of you"
48.
That tiniest slip of a lad
49.
Said "I wish I could call you mother"
50.
I've just killed the Kobulka people"
51.
I've killed the Minabi too"
52.
And who’s ever heard such a tale?
53.
And who’s ever seen such a thing?
54.
That tiniest slip of a lad
55.
And who’s ever heard such a tale?
56.
With his pronged tibun spear in hand
57.
And his long dala spear in hand
58.
That tiniest slip of a lad
59.
Who’d strode from perch to perch
60.
Who’d strode from mountain to mountain
61.
His substitute mother told him
62.
"My boy, now you listen to me
63.
Your pigs and all these things
64.
I'm tired of tending" she said
65.
"Let's find the boy a wife"
66.
"You’d better make a garden"
67.
"Build a woman's house" she said
68.
"You’d better make a garden
69.
Tiniest slip of a lad"
70.
His substitute mother said
71.
"Woman, you keep quiet
72.
You will see what I’ve done"
73.
He spoke his fill and left
74.
He heard his fill and left
75.
Hey, tiniest slip of a lad
76.
There once was a child like you
77.
He struck and sent people running
78.
And who’s ever heard such a tale?
79.
And who’s ever seen such a thing?
80.
Now after that slip of a lad
81.
Had chased all the people away
82.
Some came back to look round for food
83.
They came and went all day
84.
People looked all around and left
85.
They were people of no account
86.
Then a woman came by herself
87.
With a child inside her she came
88.
And who’s ever heard such a tale?
89.
The lad spied her before she could flee
90.
And with his axe slit open her belly
91.
He slit it and saw what fell out
92.
There was the little baby
93.
He fetched a banana trunk section
94.
He bundled it and took it away
95.
That tiniest slip of a lad
96.
He bundled it up and brought it
97.
He brought it into his house
98.
And who’s ever heard such a tale?
99.
And who’s ever seen such a thing?
100.
He brought it back to his mother
101.
And gave the bundle to her
102.
"What ever is this?" asked his mother
103.
"Well you open it up and see"
104.
He talked his fill and went
105.
What he’d brought the lad gave to her
106.
She took it and raised it herself
107.
She carried it around and it grew
108.
And who’s ever heard such a tale?
109.
And who’s ever seen such a thing?
110.
That tiniest slip of a lad
111.
She carried him around looking after him
112.
Till the boy became a young man
113.
That tiniest slip of a lad
114.
And who’s ever heard such a tale?
115.
And who’s ever seen such a thing?
116.
Her husband, his substitute father
117.
The boy did not obey
118.
But instead strode from mountain to mountain
119.
Instead strode from perch to perch
120.
He said "I'm killing the Kobulka"
121.
He said "I'm killing the Minabi"
122.
That tiniest slip of a lad
123.
He did not obey his mother
124.
And she didn't listen to him
125.
That tiniest slip of a lad
126.
She spoke her fill and left
127.
The boy heard his fill and just stood there
128.
That tiniest slip of a lad
129.
The boy heard but he did not obey
130.
The boy heard his fill and just left
131.
He said he'd looked after the pigs
132.
They had after all grown big
133.
He spoke it all out and just left
134.
The mother then spoke up and said
135.
"No it's I who've been tending pigs
136.
You come and build them a pig sty
137.
Do your garden work" she said
138.
But he'd heard his fill and just left
139.
That tiniest slip of a lad
140.
Had a swell head and wouldn't obey
141.
The pig herd had grown very large
142.
"Now we'll get you a wife" they said
143.
Putting up with that slip of lad
144.
The two of them stayed as they were
145.
And who’s ever heard such a tale?
146.
One day he returned from his travels
147.
And the mother then gave him the word
148.
She told him to stay and be careful
149.
For someone was stealing the pigs
150.
"The pigs are nearly gone
151.
You stay here and tend them" she said
152.
"You stay and split firewood" she said
153.
"You must spend the whole day at home"
154.
And then after saying this she left
155.
And who’s ever heard such a tale?
156.
"They're stealing the pigs I've been tending
157.
So the boy must tend them" she said
158.
And who’s ever heard such a tale?
159.
And who’s ever seen such a thing?
160.
Just the parents looked after the pigs
161.
They gradually kept getting stolen
162.
Just picture that boy in your mind
163.
That tiniest slip of a lad
164.
Now only two pigs were left
165.
The thieves then killed one of them
166.
And next day they knocked off the other
167.
"The pigs are finished" She said
168.
That tiniest slip of a mother
169.
When the boy came back home from his travels
170.
"All your pigs have been finished" she said
171.
"There isn't a single one left"
172.
When she'd said this she just walked away
173.
From that tiniest slip of a lad
174.
And the father went back to the house
175.
"Did he say this just out of anger?
176.
Or is it all true?" asked the boy
177.
As he stood at the back of the house
178.
As he eavesdropped he gradually saw
179.
As he eavesdropped and heard them speak
180.
The boy's mother came back to the battlefield
181.
And with this very ax
182.
I slit her belly and took him out
183.
Did you know that or hadn't you known?"
184.
When he'd said this boy slipped away
185.
That boy just cried and cried
186.
Took his tears and he bundled them up
187.
And who’s ever heard such a tale?
188.
And who’s ever seen such a thing?
189.
At nightfall the boy went to sleep
190.
Then next morning at very first light
191.
The father's axe was there
192.
He put it into his bag
193.
And that boy went away for good
194.
"Now where can I go?" he said
195.
He thought about it and left
196.
He cried as he went along
197.
And who’s ever heard such a tale?
198.
The boy cried as he went along
199.
As he came along
200.
Still walking along he went
201.
That way he walked and walked
202.
This way he walked and walked
203.
The road was very long
204.
He listened in his mind as he went
205.
He looked in his mind as he went
206.
As he walked the sun was sinking
207.
It really had just about set
208.
By now it was five o'clock
209.
That’s just how late it was
210.
When he came to a little knoll
211.
He stopped and thought to himself
212.
The sun was about to set
213.
"Where can I go" he said
214.
He stayed there and thought to himself
215.
The boy thought it through and through
216.
Then as he sat there he noticed
217.
A forest surrounded by fields
218.
And out from the middle rose smoke
219.
"There must be some people who live there"
220.
He said to himself
221.
He saw with his own two eyes
222.
Still thinking, he walked on that road
223.
Then, coming on down there he saw
224.
A side path that led down below
225.
He followed it downward and looked
226.
And there there stood a man
227.
The man had made some fires
228.
And piled on freshly cut grass
229.
Onto one of fires he heaped it
230.
That tiniest slip of a lad
231.
Came, pretending he hadn’t seen
232.
But the man saw the boy as he came
233.
He said "Boy where're you going" and then hugged him
234.
He hugged him and then the boy spoke
235.
"Where indeed, for I'm running away
236.
I saw the big smoke from this fire
237.
And that's why I've come in here now
238.
To the place where you've made this fire
239.
I've come", that's just what he said
240.
"It's really good that you've come
241.
So now let us stay here" he said
242.
To that tiniest slip of a lad
243.
And when the man had said that
244.
The boy felt very happy
245.
His soul was filled with joy
246.
He looked the man up and down
247.
And who's ever heard such a tale?
248.
And who's ever seen such a thing?
249.
He'd thought this was only a garden shed
250.
But he couldn't have been more wrong
251.
It was really a long splendid men's house
252.
And who's ever heard such a tale?
253.
He wanted to stay and keep looking
254.
There stood a haggard old woman
255.
Presenting the food that she'd cooked
256.
"I think you must be my mother"
257.
"Well what have you been doing?"
258.
That’s exactly what she said
259.
And who's ever heard such a tale?
260.
Then said that slip of lad
261.
"I think this is really my mother"
262.
That's exactly what he said
263.
She laid out the foods that she'd cooked
264.
All of that taro she'd cooked
265.
All of those yams that she'd cooked
266.
All the bananas she'd cooked
267.
All of the pork that she'd cooked
268.
She took from the oven and served them
269.
And seeing that father and son
270.
Said "it’s all for you two to savour"
271.
And that tiniest slip of a mother
272.
Herself just stood there and watched
273.
As the lad ate all of his food
274.
That tiniest slip of a mother
275.
And when they'd finished their feasting
276.
The two started questioning the lad
277.
"Where are you headed?" they said
278.
"I set off for here" he said
279.
"When my father said he'd killed my mother
280.
And brought me in a banana trunk
281.
He complained about his pigs
282.
Said I hadn't looked after his pigs"
283.
The lad was cross himself
284.
As he told those two that story
285.
But he told it very well
286.
"Well then you should stay here with us
287.
For we two live all by ourselves"
288.
That's exactly what she said
289.
Tiniest slip of a lad
290.
Now they will build you a house
291.
Tomorrow they'd cut the posts
292.
Tiniest slip of a lad
293.
That's exactly what he heard
294.
Saying "Boy let us show you the trees"
295.
They went down to the banks of the creek
296.
A big grove of kuwang was there
297.
"Tiniest slip of a lad
298.
You can cut them tomorrow" he said
299.
So the boy planned to cut them next day
300.
With that in mind, he came
301.
Some others had come to that grove
302.
And felled every one of those kuwang
303.
And stripped them and piled them up
304.
So now he could build a new house
305.
Planning to do so, he left
306.
Next morning he came and looked
307.
And they'd made them all into posts
308.
And that’s just how it went
309.
"The timber has all been cut"
310.
Said the boy as he thought to himself
311.
"What kind of men are these?
312.
They're building me a house"
313.
He thought to himself as he came
314.
That tiniest slip of a lad
315.
On his shoulders he carried two posts
316.
To the place where he wanted the house
317.
He put the posts down there and left
318.
And who's ever heard such a tale?
319.
He said "Tomorrow I'll build the house"
320.
They'd heaped up plenty of posts
321.
They'd cleared and leveled the ground
322.
And then they erected the side posts
323.
When he came the next morning to look
324.
He found that they'd put up the posts
325.
That tiniest slip of a lad
326.
Was as pleased as he could be
327.
And who's ever heard such a tale?
328.
And who's ever seen such a thing?
329.
When he came the next morning to look
330.
They had made the thatched roof and left
331.
And who's ever heard such a tale?
332.
And who's ever seen such a thing?
333.
That tiniest slip of a lad
334.
When he came the next morning to look
335.
The pig stalls had all been put in
336.
They nearly filled up the house
337.
Tiniest slip of a lad
338.
Who's ever heard such a tale?
339.
When he came the next morning to look
340.
All those stalls were filled with pigs
341.
They just kept coming and coming
342.
In a trice they all appeared
343.
And as for that small one there
344.
The tiniest slip of a lad
345.
Thought "Hey, I know these pigs"
346.
They were the very pigs that he'd tended
347.
He could recognize their snouts
348.
He looked them over and over
349.
Who's ever heard such a tale?
350.
Then the mother and father spoke
351.
"You think you're a different boy
352.
But you are our real son
353.
And now you've come back to us
354.
Just look at your big pigs
355.
And net bags full of pearl shells
356.
You can marry and do what you want
357.
Here are all of your things
358.
You've come here to where we live
359.
It's good you've come"
360.
Those two were really happy
361.
They got the boy a wife and did all sorts of things for him
362.
All the things that I've been describing in this story I've been telling --- this has been kind of a short version
363.
But now I've recited enough