Simbu Province

(map)

Long ago, Crab and Spider were friends. They shared food and would help each other find food. Spider had thousands of children and lived at the source of a stream on a tree branch. Crab had only two children and lived in a hole in the ground.

Then a heavy rain fell for many days, and the resulting flood destroyed Spider's home. Spider and the children drifted down to Crab's home, while Crab and his children were out at the garden, and stayed there.

Spider's children were many, noisy, and disobedient. When Crab and chidren returned from the garden, they found their place ruined and filled with unruly childen. Crab scolded them angrily, but Spider and his children laughed about it.

Then Crab said to Spider, "We have never argued before, and now I am ashamed. Come, let me kiss you, and I promise not to get angry again."

Spider believed Crab and came close, but Crab, instead of kissing him, bit Spider badly and ran off. Spider chased, but Crab escaped into the water. Now, when you see spiders on the top of the water, they are searching for their enemy the crab.

Slone, 2001, 2: 783.