Chapter V: Front Matter (5)

When they were near the spring they threw away the things they carried, the female pig and poor box. While they were walking near the town of Dagdagalisit, which was Kabenbenlan, Ayo saw the golden house. "We must not walk by the side of the golden house, for I am ashamed before the man who owns it," said Ayo to Dagdagalisit. They were still walking and Ayo followed him. As soon as they arrived at the ladder Dagdagalisit went upstairs and Ayo did not because she thought that Dagdagalisit did not own that house, and Dagdagalisit made her go up, and she did. As soon as she arrived above Dagdagalisit went to get rice to give Ayo to cook. "Cook this, Ayo, while I go to catch fish for us to eat," he said, and he went. As soon as he caught two fish he went home, and he left the dry bark of the banana, which he used as a clout, by the river, and he became Ligi, [189] so he went home. As soon as he arrived he made Ayo wake up, when he finished cooking the fish, and the baby went to him to be carried. He called Ayo and she did not go. "I wait for my husband, we will both eat at one time, bye and bye," she said, and she took the baby which he carried, for she was ashamed. "No, I was Dagdagalisit, but used the bark of the banana tree for a clout, because I changed my form. Let us eat." So they ate. As soon as they finished eating, "We shall make _balaua_ so that we invite all our relatives in the different towns, and we also shall invite Awig and Aponigonay," he said. Not long after he went and took the betel-nuts which he cut. When he had cut them all he oiled them and sent them to the different towns.

When the people from the different towns arrived by the spring in Kabenbenlan they were surprised because all the stones of the spring were of gold. Not long after they went up to the town. Next day Awig and Aponigonay started to go. "Ala, Aponigonay, take rice so that we may cook it in Kabenbenlan, because Aponibolinayen and Dagdagalisit have no rice to cook. What will Dagdagalisit use for his _balaua?_ He ties a banana bark clout on his body. I do not think he has rice, so we will take some for us to eat. You people who live in the same town we go to attend _balaua_. You take food with you for Aponibolinayen and Dagdagalisit make _balaua_." Not long after they went, and when they arrived in the place where the spring is in Kabenbenlan they saw the beautiful spring whose stones were all gold. The gravel which they used to wash the pottery with was all agates which have no holes through them. "I do not think that Dagdagalisit has a spring like this, for his clout is only the dry bark of the banana, but it is best for us to go and see in the town." They went, and when they had almost reached the town the golden house twinkled. "We must not walk by the golden house," said Awig. "We must not walk by that golden house, you say, but that is where the people are dancing," said Aponibolnay. As they walked they saw that the men and women who were making _alawig_ [190] were the companions of Aponibolinayen. Awig said, "That is the man who used to put the clout of banana leaves on him." As soon as Aponitolau [191] and Aponibolinayen finished dancing they went to take the hands of Awig and Aponibolay, and Aponitolau commanded the people who lived with them to bring golden seats. After that Aponitolau went to make Awig sit down. "You sit down, brother-in-law, and we will forget the things which have passed." Then he made him sit down and soon Awig and Asigtánan danced. While they were dancing Aponitolau went to cut off Awig's head. Not long after the women who never go outdoors [192] went to bring Awig to life. As soon as they made him alive again, Aponitolau gave the marriage price. It was nine times full, the _balaua_, and when Aponibolnay raised up her elbow half of it vanished, which was in the _balaua_. And Aponibolinayen used her power and the _balaua_ was full again.

Not long after they chewed betel-nut and the quid of Langa-an and Pagatipánan and the quids of Dagdagalisit went together, and the quid of Pagbokásan and Ebang went to the quid of Aponibolinayen and Awig, and Langa-an and Pagatipánan changed the name of Dagdagalisit to Ligi. "Ala, now mother old _alan_ do not feel sorry, for we take Aponitolau to Kadalayapan," said Langa-an. "Ala, yes, you take them, take all my valuable things. If it were not for me, Aponitolau would not be alive, for you Langa-an had a miscarriage and lost him, when you went to wash your hair, so I picked him up, because I had no one to inherit my possessions. Take all my things, so that Aponitolau and his wife may own them." Not long after they went home and Awig took all the payment for Aponibolinayen and all the _alan_ flew away. So Awig and Aponitolau went to their towns.

10

Aponibalagen went to put Aponibolinayen in Kabwa-an, where no one could see her. As soon as they arrived at the ocean they rode on the crocodiles to Kabwa-an. When they arrived there Aponibalagen used magic so that a big golden house stood in the middle of a wide plain. In the yard were many betel-nut trees and a spring below the trees. The gravel where the stream flowed was beads called _pagatpat_ and _kodla_, and the leaves and grass used to rub the inside of the jars was a necklace of golden wire.

When the golden house, and betel-nuts, and spring had appeared, Aponibalagen left an old woman with Aponibolinayen and Alama-an, and Sinogyaman and Indiápan, and he went back home, and he said to them, "Do not be afraid to stay, for no one can see you here, where I have put you, and if anyone tries to come here the crocodiles will eat them. You have everything you need." So he went home.

Ingiwan who lived in Kabilabilan went to take a walk. As soon as he arrived at the ocean he wondered how he could get across. Not long after he put his headaxe on the water and he rode on it, for he used magic, and his headaxe floated and went to the other side of the ocean. As soon as he reached the other side he took a walk and he saw the big golden house in the middle of the wide plain. He was surprised, and he went to see it, and the crocodiles all slept while he crossed the ocean. When he reached the spring he said, "How pretty the well is. I think the girl who owns this well has magical power, and that she is pretty also." So he went to the house and said, "Good afternoon." Alama-an was cooking, and she said, "Good afternoon." She looked at him from the window, and she saw that he was a fine looking man. She did not tell Aponibolinayen, but she had him go up the ladder. The old woman who took care of them asked why she did not tell her and Aponibolinayen. Alama-an said she did not know what she was doing when she had him go up. So the old woman went to ask him what he came for. He said, "I just took a walk and I did not know how to get home, for there was a very high bank in the way, so I came across the ocean to learn the other way back home. While I was still on the ocean I saw this big golden house. I came here, for I was very tired, for it is more than one month since I left Kabilabilan." "Ala, you Alama-an go and cook some food for this young man," said the old woman, and Alama-an went truly, and when she finished cooking, the old woman called him to eat. The young man said he did not wish to eat unless one of the ladies who never went outdoors [193] ate with him. "Alama-an is the girl who never goes outdoors," said the old woman, but he did not believe her, and so he did not go. When he would not eat she called Sinogyaman to go and eat, but the young man said, "I do not wish to eat with anyone except the pretty girl who never goes outdoors." So the old woman called Indiápan. As soon as she went outdoors to the place where the young man was, "No, that is not the girl I want. There is one prettier still. I will not go to eat." The old woman became angry and said, "If you are not hungry and do not wish to eat that is all right. I have offered three young girls to eat with you, but if you do not wish to eat with them I do not care." When the old woman and the three girls had eaten they gave him a place to sleep, and they slept also.

While the others were talking to the young man, Aponibolinayen was looking through a crack of the house, and she liked him very much. She wished to go outdoors and talk to him, but she was afraid because the old woman had said there were only the three young girls whom she called. As soon as they had finished talking, they went to bed.

In the middle of the night Ingiwan said to himself, "I believe there are other young girls here prettier than the last one she showed me. I will use my power and will become a firefly, and I will fly to all parts of the house, and see if there is a prettier one there." So he used his power and he became a firefly and he flew. [194] When he was in the room where the old woman was, he left, and went where Alama-an was, and he went on to Sinogyaman. When he did not like her he went to Indiápan. "This is the last girl she showed me and I like her, but I believe that there is another prettier." So he went to the next room, but no one slept there, and so he went on to the ninth room. He heard the sound of the pan pipe in the ninth room, and he was very glad. He flew over the head of the woman who was playing, and she stopped playing and struck at him. "How did the firefly get in here? I do not think there are any cracks in here." The firefly said, "Do not strike at me, for I fear you will hit my headaxe and be cut." So he became a man and sat down beside her, and Aponibolinayen saw that it was the man who had talked with the old woman and the girls, and she loved him, but she said, "Go outdoors, do not come here. I am afraid that the old woman who cares for us will see us. If you want something wait until morning and we will talk with her." Ingiwan did not get up and he would not go outdoors, and he said, "The best thing for us to do is to chew betel-nut, so we will know each other. Do not be afraid for I would not have come here if it was not my fortune to marry you, for I was taking a walk and intended to go back home, but I met a high bank in the way, and there was no place to go except the ocean, so I came across the ocean. As soon as I reached the field I saw your house and I was surprised to see the golden house in the middle of the field. I spoke to the young girl who was cooking and she asked me to come up, and the old woman hated her. They asked me to eat, but I would not unless a pretty girl ate with me. So the old woman called two other pretty girls, but I did not want them, for they are not so pretty as you. I thought there were others prettier than the last one she showed me, so I became a firefly. It is my fortune to marry you." So he cut the betel-nut, but Aponibolinayen did not want to chew. When he talked to her so she could not sleep she took the betel-nut, and when they chewed they saw that they both had magical power and that it was good for them to marry. Ingiwan said, "You are the woman who lives here and you must tell your name first." "No, it is not good for a woman to tell her name first. You tell your name." Not long after, "My name is Ingiwan, the son of _alan_, of Kabilabilan, who did not find a way to go home, but who found you." "My name is Aponibolinayen, who is the sister of Aponibalagen of Natpangan, who put me here so no one might see me. It is bad that you have come."

When the daylight came Alama-an went to cook and when she finished the old woman said to her, "Go and call the man and see if he wishes to eat with the girls. You call them, but do not call Aponibolinayen, for that is why we are here, so no one can see her. I do not know why the alligators did not see him." Aponibolinayen and Ingiwan heard what she said and they laughed. So Alama-an went to call him, but he was not in the room. She went to tell the old woman that he was not there, and they were surprised, for they thought he had gone home, for all the other rooms were locked. "If he is not there you go and call Aponibolinayen and we will eat." The three girls went to the room of Aponibolinayen, but Ingiwan disappeared and they only saw Aponibolinayen. So they all went to eat and Ingiwan was not hungry, for Aponibolinayen used magic, so that rice and meat went to where he was hiding.

When they had lived together a long time Aponibolinayen said to him, "You better go home now, for it is time for my brother to visit us. If you wish to marry me you must arrange with him and my father." So Ingiwan went back home and the crocodiles only watched him, but did not try to eat him. He rode on his headaxe, and when he reached the other side of the ocean he saw that the high bank had disappeared and he found the way home.

Not long after Aponibalagen went to wash his hair, and he went to the place where Aponibolinayen and the other girls were living. The three girls and the old woman agreed not to tell that a man had been there. As soon as Aponibalagen arrived in Kabwa-an he asked the old woman if anyone had been there, and she replied, "No." He called Alama-an and the other girls to the place where Aponibolinayen was, so all of them might louse him. While Aponibolinayen was lousing her brother the milk from her breasts dropped on his legs, and Aponibalagen was surprised, and he said, "What have you done, Aponibolinayen." She tried to rub it off from his leg. "No, do not rub it off; what is that?" "I do not know, brother. I guess I am sweating, for I am hot." "No, I do not believe you, I think someone has been here." He called the old woman and asked her. "You, grandmother, did you see a man who came here? Do not tell a lie." "Why?" asked the old woman. But she knew that Aponibolinayen had a little baby, for she had pricked her little finger and the baby had come out. [195] "When the girls were lousing me the milk from Aponibolinayen's breast dropped on my legs. I think you know the man who has been here." "I do not believe anyone came here, for we are on this side of the ocean, and the crocodiles protect us."

Aponibalagen called all the crocodiles to the side of the house, and he whipped all the crocodiles, and he asked them why they did not eat the man who went to Kabwa-an. As soon as he whipped them one of them said, "We did not see any man come here, but we were all very sleepy one day a long time ago. We would have eaten the man if we had seen him." Aponibalagen whipped all of them again. "I put you here to prevent anyone from coming here, and you did not watch. Go away." The crocodiles were afraid and they said, "If that is what you say we will go." So they went. Aponibalagen went back to the house and whipped the girls. "We will go back now to Kaodanan. I thought it was good for you to be here, but you have done wrong." So he took them back to Kaodanan and they made _balaua_ in order to find out who was the father of the boy. The boy grew one span every time they bathed him, [196] for they used their power. In a few days they built their _balaua_ and the _liblibayan_ [197] got betel-nuts which were covered with gold, and they oiled them and sent them to invite the people in all parts of the world. So the betel-nuts went.

As soon as the betel-nuts arrived in Kabilabilan, they said, "Good morning, Kagkagákag," [198] to the man who was lying in his _balaua_ covered with mud. "We came to invite you to the _balaua_ of Aponibalagen." "I do not wish to go, for I have no clothes and am ashamed. I do not know the man who is going to make _balaua_." "If you do not go I will grow on your knee," said one of the betel-nuts. "Do as you wish." So the betel-nut grew on his knee. When it grew big he became tired and he said, "Get off from me now and I will go." So they went. All the people from the other towns had arrived and Aponibalagen carried the baby, to see whom the baby would want to go to, but the baby did not want any of them. When the betel-nut and Kagkagákag appeared the baby was happy and wanted to go to him. So Aponibalagen gave the boy to him and all the people were surprised that Aponibolinayen had wanted him. Not long after they danced, and when they had finished Aponibalagen said to Aponibolinayen, "Take off all your things and go to Kagkagákag." Aponibolinayen did not wish to go, for he was not the same man she was with before, but her brother made her go, and he said, "Kagkagákag, take her to your town." So he took her to his town, and when they reached the gate Aponibolinayen was crying, but he said to her, "Do not feel bad, I am the man who came to Kabwa-an. That is why the boy wants me, for I am his father." Aponibolinayen did not believe him, but when they arrived at the spring of Kabilabilan she was surprised to see that the stones were of gold, and the fruits of the trees were of gold and were beads, and she said to Kagkagákag, "Why do we come here? It is shameful for us to be seen by the man who owns this." Kagkagákag laughed at her. "If you do not believe that I am your husband, you watch." And he went to take a bath, and the mud all washed off, and she saw that he was the man who was with her before in Kabwa-an. So they went up to the town, and the _alan_ who cared for Ingiwan was glad to see them.

Not long after they made _balaua_, for they wished to call Aponibalagen so that he would not always feel badly about them. Not long after they sent the betel-nuts to summon their relatives. As soon as the betel-nut arrived in Kaodanan, "Good afternoon, Aponibolinayen and Kagkagákag want you to attend their _Sayang_." Aponibalagen laughed and said, "Yes," and he called all the people and told them to prepare to go to the _balaua_.

When they arrived at the spring everyone was astonished, for all the fruit of the trees was of gold, and all the places they walked were covered with plates. And Aponibalagen said, "I do not think this is the spring of Kagkagákag. I think someone else owns it. We will go up to the house where he lives." When they reached the gate of the town they asked the young girl who was going to the spring where Aponibolinayen and Kagkagákag slept, and the woman said, "You follow these plates, for they go to the ladder of Kagkagákag's house." So they went and they always walked on the plates. When they arrived they saw many people dancing in the yard and Aponibalagen shook their hands. "Kagkagákag, if you had come as you are now to my _balaua_ I would not have been bad to my sister." Kagkagákag laughed at them and they all chewed betel-nut.

While they were chewing Langa-an and Pagatipánan went to them and they said, "We came to chew betel-nut also to see if we are related to you." Kagkagákag gave them betel-nut, and when they chewed they found out that they were relatives and they called Kagkagákag, Aponitolau, and he paid the marriage price for Aponibolinayen. Aponigawani said to him, "I thought I had no brother. I do not know what my father and mother did with you." The _alan_ who cared for Aponitolau said, "He was by the road where Langa-an had dropped him on her way to Nagbotobotán, so I picked him up, for I have no children." As soon as Aponitolau paid the marriage price they danced again, and the _alan_ gave all her things to Aponitolau, for Langa-an and Pagatipánan took them home. Not long after Aponibalagen married Aponigawani, and he paid the same as Aponitolau had paid for Aponibolinayen.

(Told by Madomar, a woman of Riang barrio Patok.)

11

"I go to visit my cousin Gawigawen of Adasin," said Aponitolau. He pushed his raft until he reached Pangasinan. At the spring he asked the women if his cousin Aponibolinayen was there. "She is not, because she went to celebrate _Sayang._ [199] Did you not get the invitation of Gawigawen of Adasin?" "No," said Aponitolau.

Aponibolinayen went to have Lisnaya fix her upper arm beads and they sat in the shade of the _pamlo-ongen_ tree, and Aponibolinayen dropped her switch.

"I wish to visit my relatives, but am ashamed because the invitation did not reach me," said Aponitolau. So he went to rest in the shade of the _pamlo-ongen_ tree, and he saw there the switch which was spread out, and there was none like it.

The women who had been at the spring said, "Why did you not invite Aponitolau? Whenever we have trouble, it is he and his cousin that we call."

"Ala, we go down to the river to see." They went to get Aponitolau and when they arrived at the spring he was there in the shade of the tree. "Ala, forgive us because the invitation did not reach you and come up to the _Sayang_" "Yes, but if the old enemy is there, when I go, the dance circle will be disturbed, if we fight." They still requested him, and he went up to the place where they danced during the two months.

Dalinmanok of Dalinapoyan said, "Long ago, when my grandfather was young, the town of Kadalayapan became wooded." (He meant that his grandfather had destroyed the town in which Aponitolau's ancestors lived.) "My grandfather Dagoláyen long ago said, 'Dalinapóyan, Dagala, and also Dagopan became wooded.'" Then Dalinmanok became angry; he looked like a courting cock and seized Aponitolau by the hair. "It is as I predicted, Cousin Gawigawen; the circle is now broken." They parted the fighters, but the hawk hastened to the town of Kadalayapan to tell Aponigawani.

"Cousin Dumalágan, Cousin Agyokan; the enemy--the old one--has killed my brother Aponitolau at the _Sayang_ of Gawigawen of Adasin, so says the hawk." After that they started and soon arrived in Adasin. They began at the south end of the town and killed so many it looked as though they were cutting down banana trees. "Look down, Aponitolau, and see if you know the men who are destroying the town." Aponitolau truly looked. "Why, Cousin Dumalágan and Cousin Agyokan, do you destroy the town?" "Because the hawk reported to Aponigawani that you had been killed by the old enemy in the town of Adasin, and she has thrown away her upper arm beads [200] by the gate of Kadalayapan."

"Ala! you stop. Ala! You who live, join their heads and their bodies; you join all," he said. "I will spit once and they will appear as if they were not cut at all. I will whip my perfume which is _banowes_, they quickly breathe. I whip my perfume which is _alikadakad_ (clatter), and they quickly stand up. I whip my perfume which is _dagimonau (monau_--just awakened) and they quickly recover." [201] "Oh, how long we have slept," they said. "How long we have slept, you say, and you have been dead." "Oh, how powerful are the people of Kadalayapan! Even if we die, we may hope to live again at once," they said, and all went up to the house of Gawigawen.

"Now Dalinmanok of Dalinapoyan, Dumpoga of Dagala, Ligi of Madagitan and Ligi of Dagopan, expect me in two months' time, for I shall come to fight you." After that they agreed and everybody went home. When they arrived at Kadalayapan there were no upper arm beads on Aponigawani, for she believed the hawk when it told her Aponitolau was dead. "No, I am not dead, but when two months have passed I shall go to fight Dalinmanok and his companions."

"When you went to sail, did you not find the switch which belongs to Aponibolinayen? They are now making a ceremony to find it." "It is here, that which I picked up in the shade of the _pamlo-ongen_ tree, and I will take it back when I go to fight."

Not long after that, according to the custom of the story, the second month came. "Old men who know the signs and very old women, come and see the liver and gall sack, because I go to fight." After that they all gathered, they caught the pig and cut it in large pieces. "Ala, old men who know the signs and very old women, come and see the gall, for I go to fight." [202] "This is better than your grandfather had when he consulted the gall. How fearful you will be to the town which you go to fight!" "Cousin Agyokan, go and tell all our cousins that we start when morning comes." When early morning came--as goes in a story--they arrived. Aponitolau played his Jew's harp at the spring of the town, and it sounded like the song of a bird and the people smelt the odor of _alangigan (Ilangilang)_ which is only possessed by the people of Kadalayapan. "Ala, it is Aponitolau," said Dalinmanok. "Go and tell our companions that we go to fight him at the river, for we do not wish them to come on shore in our town." When it was day, they met at the river and they fought until afternoon; and when Aponitolau was thirsty his headaxe turned slantwise and water blue as indigo flowed off it freely.

"Dumpoga of Dagala, Ligi of Madagitan, Ligi of Dagopan, Masilnag of Kaskasilnagan, I come to teach you because you do not know how to kill. When one tries to kill your left side, receive the blow with your right, and when they try to kill the right side, receive it with the left. Ala! you that are left alive, it is better that I spare you and that you marry the wives of your companions. I will spare you if you will all agree to give me one hundred jars which are _ginlasan, summadag_, and _tadogan_." They agreed. They rolled the jars which they took down to the river and there were among them _doldoli_ and _ginaang_, [203] and the jars were glad, for they had formerly belonged to Dagoláyen, the grandfather of Aponitolau, but had been stolen. After that Aponitolau said, "Give me your betel-nut with magic power. You jars and all you heads of dead persons which are cut off, go first to Kadalayapan." After that they went and Aponitolau followed. After they arrived they danced with the heads and in a short time put them on the _sagang._ [204]

"Now, Aponigawani, bring me the switch of Aponibolinayen, for I go to take it to her." He took the switch and used the power of the betel-nut, so that he went as quickly as a person can point to the place of many betel-nuts. In a short time, as the story goes, they arrived. "Good evening," said Aponitolau, but Aponibolinayen thought him to be an enemy. "Does the old enemy bring greetings?" asked Aponitolau. Then they went up into the house and he leaned against the corner pole. Aponibolinayen looked at Aponitolau and his good looks seemed to climb the corner pole. "It is better for us to tell our names," said Aponitolau, "for it is difficult to talk when we do not know each other's names." After that he took out, from his little sack, nuts whose husks were of gold. He cut a nut and when he gave the half to Aponibolinayen their golden finger rings exchanged themselves. "Give back my ring," she said. "Our relationship is the reason they change," said Aponitolau. Then they chewed and laid the quids on the headaxe and they became agate beads which looked like honey, and laid in parallel lines. "We are relatives," they said, and in a short time they told their names. When it became time to eat, Aponibolinayen said, "What do we eat?" He took the boiling stick and broke it into pieces, and it became a fish which they ate, [205] and Aponitolau took the bone out of the fish which Aponibolinayen ate. When they finished eating she spread the mat and the blanket which they kept in the box. "I do not like a blanket which is kept in a box, for it smells like _kimi_," [206] said Aponitolau. "Why do you not like it? It is what we keep for company and is easy to use," said Aponibolinayen. "The end of my clout is enough for my blanket," said Aponitolau. Then Aponibolinayen used the power of the betel-nut and vanished. "Why is there no one here?" said Aponitolau. "I use your power betel-nut, so that I may become the insect which belongs to Kaodanan (i.e., the firefly)."

After that he flew and arrived in the ninth room and sailed back and forth near Aponibolinayen who was playing a pan-pipe. He touched her body and she struck him away. "You must not strike me away, for you hit my headaxe." After that Aponitolau sat down. "How did you pass in here?" she asked. "I passed through the crack in the wall," said Aponitolau; and after that they laid together. When it was early morning Aponibolinayen sent him away, for she feared her brother might come.

As Aponitolau went quickly to his raft, he was seen by Balau of Baboyan, a great bird. "How fine is Aponitolau, Ala! I shall take him to marry Ginteban." [207] Then he was seized by Balau and was carried to Baboyan. "Now Aponitolau, you must marry Ginteban who lived in Baygan, for this place is surrounded with water blue as indigo and many crocodiles lie in that water."

In a little while, as the story goes, Aponibolinayen gave birth to a child.

"Ala! grandmother, prick my little finger, for it itches." She truly opened it and the baby popped out like popped rice. [208] After that they bathed it and called him Balokanag, for that is a name of the people of Kadalayapan. Soon the child was large and asked for a clout, then he asked the name of his father, but they told him falsely that it was Dumanagan. "Ala! get me a top so that I can play with the others," he said. Then his mother gave him the top which was his father's when he was a little boy. After that he went to play with it. When it was late afternoon, the old woman Alokotán went to feed the pigs, but Kanag threw his top and it broke her jar. "Pa-ya," said the old woman, "the son is brave; when you go to rescue your father who Balau captured, it will not be my pot toward which you act brave." Kanag cried, "You said, mother, that Dumanagan is my father, but there is another who is my father--Aponitolau whom Balau stole." Then Aponibolinayen cried, "How bad you are, old woman! We should have exchanged for your jar if you had not told him of his father."

"You must make me sweets, for I go to get my father," he said. "If he was seized, you who are little will be also," said his mother, but he insisted. Then she used magic and secured for him the headaxe used by his father when he was a little boy, and she made him sweets. He started and went, and his mother planted a _lawed_ vine by their hearth. [209] "Your power betel-nut, so that I go as quickly as pointing to Baboyan," said Kanag. Soon he arrived there, and he saw the crocodiles lying in the water. "You power betel-nut that I may walk on the crocodiles. Make them all sleep so that they do not feel me." He reached the home of Balau, where he saw great snakes hanging in the trees. He climbed the trees, he cut them so that they fell down, he cast them down--those big snakes--then he cut off the head of Balau, and the earth trembled. After that he went to find his father who was in the place of many betel-nuts.

"I am Balokanag whom Aponibolinayen desired, whom you left," he said. "Now I take you home to Kadalayapan." After that he truly took home Aponitolau, and Ginteban, who lived in Baygan. In a short time they arrived in Kadalayapan and Kanag's mother was there, because Aponigawani had taken her home. "Now we are married forever, Aponitolau," said Ginteban who lived in Baygan. "No, for Aponibolinayen is his wife," replied Aponigawani. "Ala! you chance it and the one who loses is not the one who is married. Put clay dishes in line, which you are to step on. The one who breaks them loses." Aponibolinayen stepped first and there was nothing broken. Ginteban followed and all those clay dishes which she stepped on were broken. Then she went home to Baygan and after that Aponitolau and Aponibolinayen were married.

12

"I am anxious to eat the fruit of the _bolnay_ tree [210] of Matawitáwen," said Aponibolinayen. "What is that?" said Ligi. "I am anxious to eat fish roe, I said." "Bring me a fish net and I will go and get some," said Ligi. So she went to get the fish net and gave it to him. Not long after he went to the river and he used magic so that all the fish in the river were caught, so truly all the fish were in the net. He caught one of them and cut it open and took out the roe. As soon as he secured the roe he let the fish all go out of the net and he went back home. Not long after he reached the yard of their house. "Aponibolinayen, come and get the fish roe which you desire," he said. She went to get it from him. She did not cook it, but put it on the bamboo hanger above the fire. Ligi went to the _balaua_ and when Aponibolinayen thought he was in the _balaua_ she threw away the roe and the dogs went to eat it, and they snarled and barked beneath the kitchen. "What are the dogs fighting about, Aponibolinayen? I think you threw away the fish roe," he said to her. "I dropped one of them."

Aponibolinayen went again to the room and she said again that she wished to eat the fruit of Matawitáwen, and Ligi asked what she said. "I am anxious for the liver of a deer, I said." So Ligi went to the woods to hunt deer. As soon as he reached the woods he sent his dogs and he said to them, "You, my black dog, do not catch deer except in the low grass, and you, my striped dog, do not touch any deer unless they have large horns." Not long after his dogs caught some deer, and he took their livers and he let them go again. Not long after he arrived at his house and he called Aponibolinayen, "Come and get the liver, which you wish to eat." Aponibolinayen said to him, "Put it in the rattan hanger." Ligi went back to the _balaua_, and Aponibolinayen used magic so that Ligi slept. While he was asleep she went to the kitchen to throw away the livers of the deer, and the dogs went to eat and made such a great disturbance that Ligi awoke and asked Aponibolinayen what was the matter. "One small piece of liver which I did not eat." She went again to the room and laid down, and Ligi used magic and became an ant, and he went to the crack of the floor, for he wanted to know what Aponibolinayen was saying, for he suspected that she was not telling him the truth. As soon as he arrived in the crack Aponibolinayen repeated her wish to eat the _bolnay_ fruit of Matawitáwen, and Ligi became a man again and appeared to her. "Why did you not tell the truth, Aponibolinayen?" he said and she answered, "I did not, because Matawitáwen is very far and I am afraid that you will be lost." "No, give me a sack," he said to her. So he went and he used magic so that he arrived at the tree at once.

Not long after he arrived truly at the place and he secured the fruit and put it in the sack. As soon as the sack was filled he took some of the fruit to hold in his other hand and he went. Not long after he reached the spring in Kadalayapan and his sweethearts were at the spring. "Ligi, how many and how pretty the _bolnay_ fruit are. Your sack is filled and you have some in your hands. Will you give us some of it to eat?" So Ligi gave them all the fruit in the sack and all he held in his hand. "Do not give everything to Aponibolinayen, but give to us also." So he gave them all he had. "The baby inside of Aponibolinayen, which desires the _bolnay_, is not your child, but is the child of Maobágan," said his sweethearts, and when they had eaten all of the fruit Ligi went home with nothing but the sack. He gave the sack to Aponibolinayen. As soon as she received it she looked to see what was inside and she found one little piece of the fruit which the women had overlooked, and she ate it. As soon as she ate it: "I am anxious to eat more if there are more. My headache is gone." "What is that?" said Ligi, angrily. "You get ready for I will put you in the place where the tree is if you want more." Aponibolinayen said to him, "Because I said that I wanted more you want to put me by the tree." Ligi was angry and he seized her by the arm and dragged her to the tree. As soon as they arrived at the _bolnay_ tree, he dug a hole about neck deep and he put her in it. As soon as he put her in the hole he went back home.

Soon Aponibolinayen was ready to give birth. "What can I do?" she said to the spirit Ayo. Ayo said, "The best thing for us to do is to prick your little finger." Not long after the little baby popped out of her finger. [211] "What shall we call him?" they said. "We will call him Kanag, for it is the name of the people who live in Kadalayapan." Every time they gave him a bath the baby always grew, for they used magic. [212] Not long after the baby became a boy, and he wanted them to get out of the hole. "No, we do not get out, for I am afraid your father is watching us." The little boy got out even though his mother was afraid.

As soon as the boy got out of the hole he listened to hear where many children were playing. So he walked to where the sounds came from. As soon as he arrived at the place where the boys were swimming Dagoláyan saw him. "Who is that boy?" he said to his companions, and the little boy went near to them. "Why, this boy looks like my uncle in Kadalayapan," said Dagoláyan to his companions, and he asked him who his father was, and the boy said he was the son of an _alan_ of Matawitáwen. Not long after they agreed that they would go to fight. So Kanag agreed with them and they decided on a day and Dagoláyan told him that he would go to his home. "If that is what you say, it is all right," said Kanag, and they all went home. As soon as he arrived at the hole by the _bolnay_ tree: "Why, we are cousins," said the other boy to me. And Aponibolinayen said, "Perhaps it is the boy from Kaodanan." "We agreed to go to fight, day after tomorrow. Make cakes for me to take with me." "No, do not go, for I fear that your father will meet you." "No, I am going. I will plant the _lawed_ vine by the stove, and if it wilts I am dead," [213] he said.

Not long after Aponibolinayen went to make cakes for his provisions, and Dagoláyan started early in the morning to go to see Kanag, and it seemed as if a thousand men struck their shields. Kanag heard the sound of the shield. "Who are the boys with Dagoláyan who go with us to fight?" As soon as Kanag met Dagoláyan they went, and they both struck their shields, and Ligi heard them and he was surprised for it sounded like two thousand people. So Ligi thought that Dagoláyan had many companions. As soon as they arrived where Ligi was waiting for them, "Where did you get the other boy who is with you?" he said to Dagoláyan. He answered that he met him where they were swimming, and that they agreed to go to fight together. Ligi wanted to kill him, and he said, "I want to kill." "No, do not kill him," said Dagoláyan. Not long after they went. As soon as they arrived where there were no houses, Kanag used his power so that it rained very hard and they had nothing to cook. Not long after it rained and Ligi and Dagoláyan did not cook anything, for everything was damp. The spirit helpers of Aponibolinayen always fed Kanag, and Ligi and Dagoláyan ate with him. "What is the matter of this boy who is the son of _alan_? He has something to eat. I do not believe that his mother _alan_ knows how to prepare good food," said Ligi, angrily.

After they had finished eating they went, and after a while they wished to fight. "The best for us to do is to stand in different places and ambush the people," said Ligi. "The best for you, son of _alan_, is to stay at the place where the carabao pass by." And Ligi went to hide where the people passed by on the way to the spring, and Dagoláyan staid on the other side. A young pretty girl passed by the place where Kanag was hiding, so he cut off her head and he shouted, for he was very happy. "Why did the son of _alan_ kill someone before us?" said Ligi. Not long after an old woman and an old man passed by where Ligi and Dagoláyan were hiding, and they killed them. Not long after they saw the head which Kanag had taken, and Kanag saw the heads which Ligi and Dagoláyan had taken were those of an old man and old woman. Dagoláyan said to him, "What did you say when you killed that pretty girl? I think I heard you say, 'Your father does not like you.' I did not hear very well so I ask for sure." "'The son of _alan_ of Matawitáwen kills the pretty girl is what I said.'" "No, that is not what you said. You said you were the son of a man who lives in Kadalayapan." Not long after, when Dagoláyan could not make Kanag repeat what he had said, they all went back to Kadalayapan where Ligi lived.

When they arrived in Kadalayapan they played the _gansa_ and danced, and Aponibolinayen heard the sound of the _gansa_, and she was anxious to go, but her spirit companion would not let her go. They saw that the _lawed_ vine was green. Not long after they made Kanag dance, and when his body trembled, while he danced, the whole town of Kadalayapan trembled also; and when he moved his feet the fish were around his feet and they went to lap his feet, because the water came up into the town. When he stamped his feet the coconuts fell from the trees, and Ligi was very angry, and he went to sharpen his headaxe. As soon as he had sharpened his headaxe he went to where Kanag was dancing and he cut off his head. When Aponibolinayen looked at the _lawed_ vine each leaf was wilted. "Grandmother, the _lawed_ vine which Kanag planted is wilted," said Aponibolinayen. "I am going to get him." So she went and as she approached the place where Ligi used to live he saw her. "How angry you were, Ligi; you killed your son," said Aponibolinayen, and Ligi bent his head, for he did not know it was his son. "I will use magic so that when I whip my perfume _alikadakad_ he will stand up." [214] So the little boy stood up at once. Not long after she used her power again, and whipped her perfume _dagimonau_ so that her son awoke. He woke up and said, "How long my sleep is!" "No, do not say that; your father killed you." She wanted to take him back to Matawitáwen, but Ligi prevented them and he begged them to forgive him, and Aponibolinayen said, "No, we will go back, for you did not want us and you put us there." So they went to Matawitáwen and Ligi followed them. As soon as they arrived at the spring of Matawitáwen Aponibolinayen used her power. "I use my power so that Ligi cannot see us, and the trail will become filled with thorns." [215] Not long after Ligi could not walk in the trail and he could not see them, and he was very sorry. He laid down, because he could not follow them and his hair grew like vines along the ground; and he did not eat, for he was always sorry about the things he had done to his wife and son. Not long after they forgave him and went to get him, and they all went back to Kadalayapan. Ligi commanded his spirit attendants to take his sweethearts and kill them, for they told falsehoods about Aponibolinayen, so that he did not want her any more. This is all.

(Told by Magwati of Lagangilang.)

13

There was a husband and wife who were Aponitolau and Aponibolinayen. Aponitolau laid down in their _balaua_ and Aponibolinayen was in the house and she had a headache. "I am anxious to eat the fruit of the orange tree which belongs to Gawigawen of Adasen," said Aponibolinayen. Aponitolau heard her. "What is that?" he said to her. "I am anxious to eat the _biw_ [216] of Matawitáwen." "Give me a sack and I will go to get it," said Aponitolau, and he went. As soon as Aponitolau filled the sack with _biw_ he went back home. As soon as he arrived in their house, "Here is the fruit you wished, Aponibolinayen. Come and get." "Put it on the bamboo hanger above the fire, and I will go and get some to eat when my head does not feel so badly, for I cannot get up yet." So Aponitolau went to put the fruit on the hanger above the fire and he laid down again in the _balaua_.

As soon as Aponitolau laid down in the _balaua_, Aponibolinayen went to the kitchen and peeled one of the _biw_ fruit and she ate it truly. As soon as she ate she vomited and so she threw them away. "What is the matter, Aponibolinayen; I think you threw away the fruit." "One of them I dropped." She went into the room and she said again, "I am anxious to eat the oranges of Gawigawen of Adasen." "What is that?" said Aponitolau. "I am anxious to eat fish roe," said Aponibolinayen. So Aponitolau went to get his fish net and he fished in the river. As soon as he arrived at the river he threw his net and secured a fish with fish roe. He cut open the fish and took out the roe. When he had taken out the roe he spat on the place where he had cut the fish and it became alive again and swam in the river. After that he went back home. As soon as he arrived at their house he gave the fish to Aponibolinayen, and he laid down in the _balaua_ again, and Aponibolinayen went to the kitchen and she toasted the roe. When she finished she tasted it, and she vomited, so she threw it away also. "What is the matter, Aponibolinayen? Why are the dogs barking?" "I dropped some of the roe." She went again to the room of the house. "I am anxious to eat the oranges which belong to Gawigawen of Adasen." "What is that, Aponibolinayen," said Aponitolau. "I am anxious to eat a deer's liver, I said." So Aponitolau called his dogs and he went to hunt deer. As soon as he arrived on the mountain, "Ala, my black dog, do not catch a deer unless it is in the low grass. Ala, my dog Boko, do not catch deer unless it is in a level field." Not long after his dogs caught deer, and he took out their livers. As soon as he took out the liver he spat on the places he had cut, and the deer ran away again. Not long after he went back home. As soon as he arrived, "Here is the liver which you wanted. Come and take it." "Put it in the kitchen. I will go and fix it when my head does not hurt." Aponitolau put it in the kitchen and he went to the _balaua_ again. When Aponitolau was in the _balaua_, Aponibolinayen went to the kitchen and cooked the liver and she tried to eat, but she vomited again, so she threw it away, and the dogs all barked. "What is the matter? Why do the dogs bark? I think you threw away the livers." Aponibolinayen said, "I threw away what I did not eat, for I did not eat all of it." "Do not throw them away, for bye and bye I will eat, for it is hard to go and get them."

Not long after she went again to the room, and Aponitolau thought that Aponibolinayen did not tell the truth, so he used his power. "I use my power so that I will become a centipede." So he became a centipede and he went in the crack of the floor where Aponibolinayen was lying. Not long after Aponibolinayen said again, "I am anxious to eat the oranges which belong to Gawigawen of Adasen." "I know now what you want; why did you not tell the truth at first? That is why you threw away all the things I went to get for you," said Aponitolau, and he became a man and appeared to her. "I did not tell the truth for I feared you would not return, for no one who has gone there has returned, so I am patient about my headache."