Yawar of Badu was a famous gardener, and the yams and bananas grew rapidly in his garden, which was situated on the hill Gizo, on the windward side of the island.
The yams of the Madub men who lived at Samun grew only during the north-west season, whereas Yawar always had a good supply. So, one day, the Madub men sent a deputation of two of their number to discover the secret of Yawar's success. The two men said to Yawar, "How you make a garden? When you make him, he grow quick; when we make him, he take long time—not till Kuki (the north-west or rainy season) comes; best thing you learn us." "Very well," replied Yawar, "see you no forget; you Madub men put yam in ground; you see me, I make heap first, then I put yam in; now you savvy." And he showed them how he did it, until they understood it. The men returned home, but soon forgot what Yawar had told them; so that year their yams did not do well.
Next year a deputation of four men was sent to Yawar, and Yawar cut a flat stick and shovelled up the earth into a hillock, and explained fully his method of setting yams; but the men forgot everything on their way home. On their return they were asked, "You fellow got him?" (i.e., "Know how to do it"). "No," they replied, "we forget again."
In the following year a third party was sent, consisting this time of six men. Yawar said to them, "How many times am I to teach you?" and again he carefully instructed them. The men forgot all the information as they were travelling homewards.
Lastly, all the Madub men set out for Gizo, each carrying his throwing-stick suspended from the collar-bone by its hook. Yawar did not notice them; they came like spirits. On their arrival they hooked Yawar, and dragged him along the ground, he crying out, "Very good, you leave me now, I got woman and children, no kill me." First they took him to Moa, where they informed him they would transport him to Mer, and Yawar said, "No good you kill me, I got woman and children. I learn you good to make garden, and you forget; no fault along me." But the men paid no heed to him, and dragged him along the ground, and took him in a canoe to Mer. On their arrival at Mer they dragged him, raw and bleeding, up the steep, smooth side of the hill Gelam.
