[When] they two are talking [about it, he said], “I didn’t bring this box of things through dishonesty to you, but to look at your cleverness.” During all the time each one is thinking of quietly taking the box of goods, and bounding off [with it].
Well then, those two persons having come back, and having walked to the sands of the sea, it became night. Placing that box of things in the midst of the two, when they were lying down the person who stole it at first went to sleep.
Then the other man, taking the box, hid it at a recognisable place (ayiruwak) in the sea. Having hidden it and come back, and very quietly returned near the other one, he went to sleep. The person who hid the box of things and returned, went to sleep.
Then the other one, having arisen very quietly, when he looks for the box of things, the box of things is not there. When he sought and looked about for it, he did not meet with it. [But] when he tasted [with the tip of his tongue], and looked at the body (skin) of that person who is sleeping, until the time when he comes [upward] near the hip there is salt taste.
Now then, that one thought, “He will have hidden it in the water, waist deep in the sea.” Having gone on account of the thought, when he looked in the water to the extent of a round [of the top] of the cloth (pili-waṭak, waist-deep) a tree was near. [The other man] having placed it near the tree he met with it [there].
As soon as he met with it, taking the box of things and having come to his village, he says to his wife and children, “Having sought me, should a man come here, say, ‘He died yesternight. There is delay in going to bury him, until the time when his relatives assemble.’ ” Well then, they are lamenting falsely.
Well, Gampolayā [having come there] says, “We, indeed, called Gampolayā and Raehigamayā, walked about and committed robbery at [each] city in turn. Now then, don’t you be grieved that he died; I am more troubled in my mind than you. The agreement of us two indeed is that should I die first, he having come,—that kind of creeper called Habalossā; it is an extremely bad sort of thorn,[6]—having put [some] of the creepers on the neck there is a promise to go dragging me until the time when he goes to the edge of the grave. Should he die first the promise is [that I should act] in that very manner.”
Well then, having brought a Habalossā creeper, and put it round the neck of the person who was dead, when he prepared (lit., made) to drag him the person who was dead laughed. Having laughed, he says, “Friend, I did not bring the box of things on account of stealing it, [but] to look if you are a clever person.”
Well then, these two correctly divided in two the articles in the box of things. The two persons [afterwards] dwelt in happiness.
North-western Province.