Tete Pede said that the Tifu garuda had seven heads, and was so big
that it blocked off the light of the sun, darkening the earth as it flew.  It
flew as far as ambelau to watch for perahus.  Among the rocks near Tifu are
many decomposing planks and rusting nails.

The Nalbesi watchmen of lake Rana cut colladium leaves on which to ferry
themselves across the lake.

The Rana eels bite their own tails when the water
is calm.

A Mefa myth has it that all ancestors are re-incarnated into nusi eagles.
The nusi eagle is the guardian spirit of Mefa, and protects Mefa against
attack.  Nusi eagles usually fly over Mefa in the morning.  They are large
birds, and teach their offspring to fly by carrying them on their backs,
dropping them, and then catching them again.  The "ahak" cries of the nusi
eagles can be heard over the barking of the village dogs.

The above
information about the beliefs of Mefa people from Tofilus T. Lesbata, son of
Samuel Lesbata, uncle of Martin Lesbata.  Martin was my friend, carpenter in
Namlea (About 1966).

Fen betu balak, do Fatuparo du epteax Wae-mala nain kahan.  Lalen sa wae bae,
beko pe tu Waris-tama iko biduk e.  Da oli gamdi huma, da dapax ikan sa mo.
Nax geba humaro du sefeno la riqe.

Waris-tama saki, pe tu da molo wae.  Da
puna mhalat e.  Fatan hansiax puna mhalat e.  Gemoix faha kahan.  Faha exwana
tu kada exwana gana geba.

Wae bae do Fatuparo kalak.  La du rai, do du kalak e
fene, "Opo Waris-tama,  Gamahix la ku pahux kami.  Pe tu Waris-tama kadux, pa
da pahux geba, asal bara pehex olon.

Fatupa is the same as Lilibalu.

Roqe-Tama was a suaqgi.  When they found him to be too evil, they snared him
with a cord, put him in a pen, and speared him.  As he was dying, he chanted a
kabata to his son, Roqe, warning him not to follow in his footsteps.

Asu tu bijaqan
        by Timor Seleki
        Ambon, probably 1969.

Geb Buru dohi fene bijaqan di bal-balax do sodin sa moo.  Asu bal-balax pakex
sodin, bu bijaqan sodin sa moo.

Bu lalen saa, sirua iko, paa bijaqan eprepa la
asu fene, "Kita rua iko la ma ix foi!"  Asu tewa mo fene bijaqan la d
pimbodok.

Beko du suba di wae, bijaqan eprepa la asu fene, "Hufa nam i-futin
dii, la ku batahuh, la ka foi leuk."

Beko asu caan gamdi, asu toho, paa da
fuka nake i-futin, pa d batahuh.

Beko bijaqan eprepa fene, "Mam gamdi do ku
egu bamahix la yako temax namu i-futin dii."

Beko da temax, beko da heka
tuhah.

Beko asu nax hasi ute bijaqan eta lea lalen leqina na.  Asu kita
bijaqan do da jaga tehuh.