Stories from the Marshall Islands/Bwebwenato Jan Aelon Kein: English/Marshallese

by Tobin, Jack A.

• ISBN13: 9780824820190
• ISBN10: 0824820193
• Edition: Bilingual
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-01-01
• Publisher: Univ of Hawaii Pr

Summary

Among Marshallese the ri-bwebwenato (storyteller) is well known and respected, a living repository and transmitter of traditional history and culture. Here are ninety folktales and stories of historical events, collected and translated into English during the third quarter of the twentieth century. They include tales of origins, humanlike animals, ogres, and sprites -- some malevolent, some playful. Many are presented in the original language and are amplified by extensive commentary.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Introduction	1	(10)
STORIES OF BEGINNINGS
The Beginning of This World	11	(26)
Jinoin Lal In	26	(11)
Story about Borraan	37	(11)
Bwebwenato in Borraan	43	(5)
Story of the Heaven Post Men	48	(1)
The Origin of Tattooing	49	(2)
The Origin of the Irooj (Chiefs) of the Marshall Islands	51	(2)
Liwatuonmour	53	(1)
The Story of Liwatuonmour and Lidepdepju	54	(2)
About a Woman Named Loktanur	56	(6)
Kon Juon Kora Etan Laktanur	59	(3)
The Story of Loktanur	62	(1)
Story about Jebwa	63	(4)
Bwebwenato in Jebwa	65	(2)
About a Young Man of Jalooj: Story about Anidep	67	(9)
Kon Juon Likao in Jalooj: Bwebwenato in Anidep	72	(4)
A Young Man Who Saw Jebro	76	(5)
Juon Likao ar Lo Jebro	78	(3)
Origin of the Banana Plant on Arno Atoll	81	(2)
Coconut Drifting onto the Sandbar: The Beginning of Coconut Trees	83	(4)
Ni Eotok in Bok: Jinoin Ni	85	(2)
Story about the Beginning of Pandanus in the Atolls of the Marshalls	87	(2)
Bwebwenato in Jinoin Bob ilo Aelon in Majel	88	(1)
The Story of Bob(Pandanus)	89	(1)
A Fairy Tale (Inon)	90	(1)
Stories of Ronlap and Rondik	91	(7)
Bwebwenato in Ronlap im Rondik	96	(2)
Story about Ellep in the Days of Long Ago	98	(6)
Bwebwenato in Ellep ilo Raan ko Etto	102	(2)
Story about Ellep Island	104	(1)
Story about Jebat Island	105	(1)
Story about the Atoll of Wotto in the Olden Days	106	(3)
Bwebwenato in Aelon in Wotto ilo Raan ko Etto	108	(1)
The Story of Labokjanwut	109	(1)
Laio, the Demon Who Stole from the Atoll of Majro	110	(2)
How the Large Inlet on Wotto Island Was Formed	112	(1)
The Beginning of the Appearance of Navigation in These Atolls	113	(3)
Jinoin an Walok Meto ilo Aelon Kein	115	(1)
The Reason the Kapinmeto People Know Navigation: Story of the Beginning of the Knowledge of Navigation	116	(10)
Wunin an Ri-Kapinmeto Jela Meto: Bwebwenato in Jinoin Jelalokjen kon Meto	122	(4)
Story about Weather: The Way the Old People in the Marshall Islands Used (Forecast) Weather	126	(2)
Bwebwenato in Lan: Waween an Ritto ro ilo Majel Kojerbal Lan	127	(1)
About the Ikid (Song-story) of the Lorro and Likakoj	128	(3)
Kon Ikid eo an Lorro im Likakoj	129	(2)
The Ikid (Song-story) of Lainjin	131	(12)
Ikid eo an Lainjin	140	(3)
STORIES ABOUT ANIMALS
Our Mother Forever, Our Father and the Father of Others	143	(7)
Jined ilo Kobo, Jemad im Jeman Ro Jet	148	(2)
Story about Inedel	150	(1)
Story about Living Things (Animals) in the Marshalls	151	(6)
Bwebwenato in Meninmour ko ilo Majel in	154	(3)
The Tattler and the Triton: A Parable about the Coming of the Missionaries to Epoon	157	(3)
Kidid (Pedo) im Jilel: Burabol an Itok Mijinede nan Epoon	158	(2)
The Story of Lijebake	160	(4)
Story about a Kakwoj	164	(3)
Bwebwenato in Juon Kakwoj	166	(1)
Loppeipaat (Low Tide)	167	(4)
Loppeipaat	169	(2)
Two Women	171	(7)
Ruo Kora	175	(3)
STORIES ABOUT EVIL SPIRITS AND FLYING WOMEN
Story about a Woman on Kole Island	178	(6)
Bwebwenato in Juon Kora ilo Aelon in Kole	182	(2)
Story about a Mejenkwaad	184	(8)
Bwebwenato in Mejenkwaad	189	(3)
Mejenkwaad Story from Anewetak	192	(2)
Mejenkwaad Stories	194	(1)
A Mejenkwaad on Arno	195	(1)
Mejenkwaad Story and Lomkein Story	196	(1)
Story of Lomkein	197	(7)
Bwebwenato in Lomkein	201	(3)
Story about Lomkein	204	(1)
Story of Two Brothers on Jalooj	205	(2)
About a Woman Who Had Ten Boys	207	(6)
Kon Juon Kora eor Jonoul Najin Laddik	210	(3)
Story about Eleven Boys	213	(6)
Bwebwenato in Ladik ro Jonouljuon	216	(3)
Story about Two Epaton Women	219	(3)
Bwebwenato in Ruo Kora in Epaton	221	(1)
About a Woman Who Had a Boy Child	222	(10)
Kon Juon Kora Eor Juon Najin Laddik	228	(4)
About a Man Named Jemerkinene	232	(7)
Kon Juon Emmaan Etan Jemerkinene	236	(3)
A Story of Two Men in Ratak, on Wojja Atoll, Island of Majjen	239	(5)
Juon Bwebwenato an Ruo Emmaan i Ratak ilo Aelon in Wojja, Ane in Majjen	242	(2)
Story about a Young Majeej Girl	244	(3)
Bwebwenato in Juon Jiron in Majeej	245	(2)
The Girls from Ep	247	(9)
Ledik ro jan Ep	252	(4)
Lijibokra	256	(2)
Story about Lorro	258	(9)
Bwebwenato in Lorro	263	(4)
Two Jalooj Women (Lorro)	267	(2)
Ruo Kora in Jalooj (Lorro)	268	(1)
A Lorro Story from Arno Atoll	269	(1)
A Lorro Story from Anewetak Atoll	270	(1)
OTHER STORIES
About a Woman on Ujae Named Libwiner	271	(8)
Bwebwenato in Juon Kora i Ujae, Etan Libwiner	276	(3)
The Story of Laninlur	279	(1)
About a Chief on Epaton, Kuwajleen	280	(8)
Kon Juon Irooj ilo Epaton, Kuwajleen	285	(3)
Story about Two Young Men at Woja, Aelonlaplap	288	(8)
Bwebwenato in Ruo Likao ilo Woja, Aelonlaplap	293	(3)
Story about a Boy Named Deelelpo Japo	296	(7)
Bwebwenato in Juon Laddik, Etan Deelelpo Japo	301	(2)
Story about Nooniep	303	(5)
Bwebwenato in Nooniep	305	(3)
Nooniep Stories from Anewetak Atoll	308	(1)
Stories about Etao	309	(3)
Maui on Majeej, and Wonenak Stories	312	(2)
Maui on Majeej	314	(1)
The Chant of Mile: Fishing Up from the Bottom of the Sea	315	(2)
About a Woman Who Was on Rondik	317	(4)
Kon Juon Kora Eaar Pad Rondik	319	(2)
HISTORICAL EVENTS
The Big Typhoon That Devastated the Marshall Islands	321	(1)
Epoon History: The Voyage to Banep (Ocean Island)	322	(1)
The War between the Ri-Mwejoor and the is Lajjidik and Raarno	323	(2)
Bwebwenato in Arno: A o History	325	(4)
Ralik History: About the Chiefs	329	(1)
Ralik History: The War on Epoon	330	(3)
The Conquest of Pikinni Atoll by Laarkelan	333	(3)
Early History of the People of Wujlan Atoll	336	(2)
Anewetak Atoll History: Warfare with Invaders	338	(3)
Story about Kidu in Lojet (Dog of the Sea)	341	(2)
Bwebwenato in Kidu in Lojet	342	(1)
The War between Launa and the Woleai People	343	(2)
Story about the War between the Marshallese People and the Woleai People	345	(8)
Bwebwenato in Tarinae eo ikotaan Ri-Majel im Ri-Woleai	350	(3)
Story about Kabua When He Drifted to Makil	353	(6)
Bwebwenato an Kabua ke eaar Pelok nan Makil	357	(2)
Story about an American Ship	359	(7)
Bwebwenato in Juon Waan Amedka	363	(3)
Story about an American Ship: Further Explanation	366	(2)
Bwebwenato in Juon Waan Amedka: Kommelele ko jet	367	(1)
The People of Majeej and the German Trader	368	(2)
Story about the Majeej Irooj	370	(1)
The History of the Church on Anewetak Atoll and on Wujlan Atoll	371	(20)
APPENDICES
A Biographies of Storytellers	373	(5)
B Motifs of the Stories	378	(8)
C Weather Forecasting and Navigation	386	(2)
D A Note on Canoe Building in the Old Days	388	(1)
E The Old Marshallese Method of Counting	389	(2)
References	391	(4)
Index	395