# Papuan Fairy Tales/Kapikoa, the Black Cockatoo

KAPIKOA, THE BLACK COCKATOO.
In the old days, Kapikoa, the black cockatoo, was a very great chief. His servants were many, but he treated them evilly, for when he ate betel nut he gave them only the husk, and kept the substance for himself.
One day he said to his servants, "Get ready my canoe, for J wish to travel to the west." So they made all ready, and went on board, they and their master, and paddled a long way, and at last they landed.
Now the servants had made a plot among themselves to rid them of their greedy master. They said, "Let us go away, and leave him alone, where he will have no one to take his betel husk."
So they went to Kapikoa, and said, "Lord, we would ask thee a boon. Wilt thou remain by the canoe whilst we go to drink water?" Then said he, "Ye may go." They therefore followed up the stream, and made its waters dark by stirring up the mud as they went. But when they got higher they drank fair water at the source.
Now when they had thus done they went back to Kapikoa and said, "Let us now remain by the canoe, lord, whilst thou drinkest." Kapikoa was athirst, therefore he did as his servants had said. ​But when he reached the stream he found the water was muddied. He walked on and on until he reached the source. Then he drank and returned to the shore. But no canoe there lay, for his servants had already launched it and put out to sea, leaving their master's bag on the beach. When they were a safe distance from the shore they laid down their paddles and let the canoe float.
Then was Kapikoa wroth when he saw them, and he cried with a loud voice, "Come hither that I may go on board." But the servants made answer, "Nay! Thou hast given us only the husk of thy betel nut, while thou hast eaten the substance thyself. Remain there alone, for we will not have pity on thee."
Then they took up their paddles, and steered for home.
Kapikoa watched for long, hoping that their hearts would turn towards him, but when they were gone out of sight, he knew it was of no avail to stay where he was. Therefore, he turned and went into the bush, and found his way to the river.
There he saw a big fig tree on the bank, and he climbed into it. As he sat in the branches, a beautiful girl passed under it, and bent down at the river to fill her coconut water bottles. Kapikoa scratched a design on a fig and threw it down, hoping that the maiden would see him. She looked up when it splashed in the water, but could see nought, therefore she stooped once more. Kapikoa threw down yet ​another fig, and the girl, seeing the design upon it, knew that it had not fallen with the wind, but that someone had thrown it. Therefore she gazed long at the tree, and saw Kapikoa in the branches. Then she called to him, "Come down, I pray thee."
Kapikoa did as she had said, and when he saw how fair she was he loved her, and they were married, and went away together. Then said he, "Now thou art my wife thou must cook my food." The girl took some taro and peeled it and laid it in the sun to become warm. Her husband asked her, "Is there here no fire?"
Then said the girl, "Nay, lord, I know not of what thou speakest." For in her land fire was not known, and food was eaten raw, or was but warmed by the rays of the sun.
Then said Kapikoa, "Bring me hither two pieces of wood," and she brought them and gave them to him. Then he rubbed them together and they smouldered, and he blew on them until they blazed.
Now the girl was afraid when she saw the flames, for she knew not whence they were. But her husband said, "Fear not. Now thou canst cook my food, since I have shown thee how." So the girl made ready taro and cooked it and gave it to her husband, and they both ate of it. And when the meal was eaten, Kapikoa said to his wife, "Behold, now thou knowest how to deal with fire. Therefore thou must ever cook food after this manner." And she did so, and so do all women to this day. ​Now let us take a piece of yam and roast it and break it upon the head of Ogiti, for the tale is done.