The man on the banana tree and the leriko

Two old women planted bananas, and afterwards the two bananas sprouted and two leaves opened, one had one leaf, and the other one. They grew until they opened their mouth (ie., flower-sheath) and had fruit. A certain man was walking and went up and saw the bananas were ripe. He climbed up on to the stalk. A Leriko went to watch, saw the man above, and said to him,

“Ne katirere pairo, I will eat of the bananas.”

The man picked one and threw it down. The Leriko swallowed it whole and said,

“Ne katirere pario, I will eat of the bananas.”

The man took a banana and threw it down. The Leriko swallowed it whole, and so on till the bananas were finished. Afterwards the man said,

“Where shall I go that I may descend?” The Leriko said,

“You come down I will destroy you.”

The man said, “Go away.”

It said, “No, you come down and I will destroy you.”

It continued talking to the man till he was afraid, and stayed up the tree. Then the Leriko cut across the banana stalk : when the mans saw the Leriko cut it across, he was frightened, came flying down and dashed himself to death.