Chapter 15

Not long after they arrived where the young girls spun at night. "Stay here, Cousin Dagoláyan, and I will meet you here. I am going to see the daughter of Ginayod, who is Asimbáyan of Ilang." "If that is what you say it is all right," said Dagoláyan. Not long after Kanag reached the place where the girl was, and he talked with her. The girl who never goes outdoors said to him, "If you will get the perfume of Baliwán I will believe all you say." "If you will agree to my mission I will go and get whatever you want," said Kanag. "Ala, if you do not believe me, you take my arm beads from my left arm, for you are kind to go for me." So she gave him her arm beads, and Kanag started to go at once. As soon as he arrived at the place where the young girls spun and had joined his companion, his cousin asked, "What did she say?" "She told me that if I will secure the perfume of Baliwán she will do everything I ask of her. Let us both go." "No, I do not wish to go with you, for you will not go with me where I wish to go." "Please come with me and another time I will go with you," said Kanag.

Not long after they went and they met the _doldoli_ [266] in the way. "Where are you going, rich young men?" it said to them. "Where are you going,' you say, and we are going to get the perfume of Baliwán, for though we are far from it still we can smell it now." "Ala, young men, you cannot go there, for when anyone goes there, only his name goes back to his town." But the boys replied, "We are going anyway. That is the reason we are already far from home, and it is the thing the pretty girl wants." "If you say that you are going anyway, you will repent when you reach there." "It is the thing which will make the girls love us." So they left the jar and walked on. When they reached the middle of the jungle they met a big frog, and it said, "Where are you going, young men?" "'Where are we going,' you say, and we are going to get the perfume of Baliwán, for that is what Asimbáyan of Ilang desires." "No, do not go there, for everyone who has gone there has died." "We will go on anyway, for we are already far from our town and we cannot return without the perfume." So they left the frog and walked on. Not long after they approached the place where the perfume was, and while they were still a long way off they could smell its odor. "What a fine odor it has. That is why the young girl who never goes outdoors desires it so much." They walked on and in a short time they reached the place below the perfume. When they were there Dagoláyan said to Kanag, "Take some from the lower branches." "No, it is better for me to climb and get some from the top, for I think they are better above than below." So Kanag climbed and as soon as he broke off the stem which held the perfume his legs became like part of a snake. Dagoláyan looked up and he saw that the legs of his companion had changed to part of a snake. He said, "Now, my Cousin Kanag, I am going to leave you, for you are no longer a man, but you are a serpent." "Do not leave me even if I do become a serpent. I will not injure you. Do not be afraid." In a short time all his body had become a real serpent, and Dagoláyan ran and went home, and the big serpent followed him.

Not long after Dagoláyan arrived in Kadalayapan, and Aponitolau and Aponibolinayen asked where Kanag was. "Kanag has become a big serpent. As soon as he broke off the perfume of Baliwán which the young girl desired he became a serpent." Aponitolau and Aponibolinayen went around the town and told the people that they must accompany them, for they were going to see if Kanag had really become a serpent. When Aponitolau and Aponibolinayen had killed many animals and given much food to the searchers and they did not find him, they stopped searching.

Not long after Kanag thought he would go to the river where the people took their baths. So he went. Not long after Langa-ayan was anxious to wash her hair, so she went to the river and washed it, and Do-ansowan washed his hair first and Langa-ayan helped him, for he was her husband. As soon as she had washed his hair, he said to her, "I am going to the town." So he went and left Langa-ayan alone by the river washing her hair. When she had washed her hair she washed her arm beads. While she was washing her upper arm beads she heard a great commotion in the river, and soon after a big serpent appeared on the other bank. Langa-ayan saw that it was a big serpent and she was so frightened that she started to run, but the serpent said to her, "Do not run, my aunt, I am not a real serpent, for I was a young boy before." So Langa-ayan stopped and asked him why he had become a great serpent. "Because I went to Ilang to see the pretty girl, and she told me that if I could get the perfume of Baliwán she would do whatever I asked, so I went. I did not want to go, for I was not sure that she told the truth, but she gave me her left bracelet, so I went. When I was still far away from Baliwán I could smell the perfume, and when I reached the tree I climbed it and I tried to break the stem which held the perfume, and my companion saw that I was changing to a serpent and he ran away. I truly became a serpent and now I have come here and have met you. If you do not believe that I was truly a boy, I will show you the arm beads." So he lifted his head and Langa-ayan truly saw the arm beads around his neck. "My aunt, will you find out how I may become a man again?" She said, "If what you have said is true you follow me." So they went up to the town.

Do-ansowan said to his wife, "How long you have staid at the river, my wife." "I was there a long time, for I met a big serpent. If you wish to see it, it is in the yard. He says he was a young boy and he showed me the arm beads of a young girl, which he has about his neck. I believe that he is a young boy who has become a serpent. When he broke the stem of the perfume which the girl wanted he became a serpent. He wants to know how he can again become a boy." "Ala, if that is what he wants, you go and take him to my Uncle Ma-obagan." So they went and when they arrived where Ma-obagan lived she said, "Good morning, uncle." "Good morning," he answered. "The reason I came is because a young boy who became a big snake is here. Will you please put him in your magic well which changes everything which goes in it and make him a young boy again?" "If he will go into the water, even if it feels bad, you call him and let him go in." So they went and when they arrived at the well the serpent went into the water, and the serpent's skin began to crack and fall off and he became a boy again.

Not long after they went back to the house of Langa-ayan. As soon as they arrived there the boy went to the _balaua_ and did not follow Langa-ayan to the house. Do-ansowan saw that he was a handsome young boy. As soon as Langa-ayan had finished cooking they called him to come and eat and he said to them, "I do not wish to eat if there are no girls to eat with me." "We are afraid if you do not eat, for you did not eat for a long time, while you were a serpent." The boy said, "Even though I did not eat while I was a serpent I will follow my custom, for I do not eat unless a pretty young girl who never goes outdoors eats with me." When they could not persuade him Do-ansowan said to his wife, "Go and call our daughter Amau." Not long after she went to call her. When she arrived where they had put her she said, "Come and eat with the rich young man." "How can I go? I do not know how to walk." "Take the big gold basket and hold on to it while you walk." Not long after she arrived where the food was, and Langa-ayan and Do-ansowan said to the boy who was still in the _balaua_, "Come and eat now, nephew, with our daughter who never goes outdoors." So the boy went quickly, and when he reached the place where the girl was, they ate. When they had finished eating he said that he was sick, but he was not. So they went to fix a place for him to lie and he said, "Perhaps I am sick because of the spirit of the young girl." So they went to call their daughter, for Kanag wanted her to touch him, and he wanted to see her. The girl went to touch his body and he was all right, for he wished her to touch him, and he said, "Now, my uncle and aunt, if you wish me for a son-in-law I wish to marry Amau. I will not go any further to find a wife." The father and mother of the girl agreed to what Kanag said, for the girl wanted to marry him, so they were married.

"Now, Kanag, we are going to make _Sayang_ and invite your mother and father so that they can see that you are a young man again," said his father-in-law and mother-in-law. They made _Sayang_ and they sent someone to invite their relatives, and someone went to Asimbáyan of Ilang and told her that Kanag Kabagbagowan, who lived in Kalaskigan, and his wife Amau were making _Sayang_. Some of the betel-nuts which they sent arrived in Kadalayapan where Aponitolau and Aponibolinayen lived and they said, "Good morning," to Aponitolau who was lying down in the _balaua_. He felt badly because Kanag was a serpent and he said to the betel-nut, "Good morning. Come to Kalaskigan, for Kanag and Amau are making _Sayang_ and they want you to come." So Aponitolau got up quickly and told Aponibolinayen who was lying down in the house that Kanag and his wife were making _Sayang_, and they were happy because Kanag was a boy again. They told all the people to prepare to go to the _Sayang_ of Kanag and his wife. So they went, and when they arrived they saw that Kanag was handsomer than before, and Asimbáyan went also, for they had invited her. Asimbáyan saw that Kanag was the boy who had taken her bracelet and had gone to get the perfume for her, and while she was watching him Kanag went to talk with her. He told her what had happened when he went to get the perfume for her, and he told her how he had become a snake and his mother-in-law had met him by the river and had taken him to the old man who changed him again to a boy, and he had married the daughter of Do-ansowan and Langa-ayan. Kanag said, "Now, I cannot marry you, so I will give back your bracelet." So he gave it back.

Not long after Aponitolau and Aponibolinayen asked how much they must pay for the wife of Kanag, and Langa-ayan and Do-ansowan said, "Fill our _balaua_ nine times with valuable things." When they had paid all, they said, "Now we are going to take them to Kadalayapan, for we have paid all you asked." "No, do not take them. They are going to stay here," said Do-ansowan and Langa-ayan. "They will come there bye and bye." "Ala, if that is what you say they must come and visit us, even if they stay here." Not long after Kanag and his wife went to Kadalayapan to visit his father and they staid there three months. Then Do-ansowan and his wife were anxious for them to return. When Kanag and his wife returned to Kalaskigan they said, "Why did you stay so long? We thought you were going to live in Kadalayapan and we intended to follow you." "We staid a long time, for my father and mother would not let us return when we wished," said Kanag.

(Told by Angtan of Lagangilang.)

21

"Goto watch our _langpadan_, [267] Kanag, because the wild pigs spoil it." Kanag went. When he arrived at the field he went around it and it was not injured, so he went to the little watch house and he was sorrowful, and he always hung his head. Not long after Aponitolau said to Aponibolinayen, "Cook some rice and meat for I am going to our field and carry the food to Kanag." So Aponibolinayen went to cook. As soon as she finished cooking they ate first. As soon as they finished eating Aponitolau took the rice and meat and started for the field where their son was. When Aponitolau appeared Kanag took his _lipi_ nuts and he played, and the mountain rice which he went to watch was not injured. As soon as Aponitolau arrived to the place where he was playing, "Come to eat, Kanag," and Kanag said, "I am not hungry yet. Put the food in the house. I will play awhile first." When Aponitolau could not make him eat he put the provisions in the house, and he went home and left the boy. Kanag did not go and eat. The next morning Aponitolau went to take him food again and as soon as Kanag saw him he took his game and went to play. When Aponitolau arrived he called him to go and eat, but he did not go for he wished to play, and he asked his father to put the rice and meat in the house. Aponitolau was surprised, because he did not eat, and the provisions for the first day were still untouched. He asked, "Why do you not like to eat?" and he said, "I am not hungry yet." When Aponitolau could not make him eat he went home again, and Kanag used magic and he became a _labeg_. [268]

Aponitolau said to Aponibolinayen, "I wonder why Kanag does not like to eat." "I think he is sorrowful, because he was sent to watch the mountain rice." "What is the reason that you sent him to the field when the fences are strong and no wild pigs can get in," said Aponibolinayen. "You must cook and we will eat, and then I will go and get him." Aponibolinayen went to cook. As soon as she finished cooking they ate and after that Aponitolau took some rice and meat for Kanag to eat. Aponibolinayen said to him, "As soon as he finishes eating bring him home. Do not let him stay there alone. That is why he does not wish to eat." Aponitolau said, "Yes," and so he went. When he arrived at the field he could not see Kanag any more. He called to him, and the little boy answered him from the top of the bamboo tree. His father felt very sorry that he had become a little bird. "Why did you become a little bird, Kanag? Come and eat. I will not send you here any more." Kanag said, "I do not wish to eat and I would rather be a bird and carry the signs to everyone." So his father went back home and he was sorrowful. As soon as Aponitolau arrived in Kadalayapan he said to Aponibolinayen, "Kanag has become a bird. Perhaps he felt sorry because we sent him to watch the rice. He said that when I am going to war he will fly over me, and he will give me the good and bad signs." [269]

Not long after Aponitolau started out to fight. He took his spear, headaxe and shield, and he went. When he was near the gate of the town, Kanag gave the bad sign. "Go back, father, for you have a bad sign," said the little bird. So his father went back at once. The next morning he started again and he went. When he reached the gate of the town the little bird gave him a good sign, so he went. The little bird flew near to him and he always gave the good sign. Aponitolau was happy for he knew that nothing would injure him.

Not long after they arrived at the _alzado_ [270] town, and the _alzados_ were glad when they saw Aponitolau and they said to him, "You are the only man who ever came to our town. Now you cannot return home. We inherit you," said the bravest of them. "Ala, if you say that I cannot go back home, you summon all the people in your town, for we are going to fight," said Aponitolau, and the _alzado_ said to him, "You are very brave if you wish to fight with all of us." So the bravest summoned all the people to prepare, for Aponitolau wished to fight all of them. The people were surprised that one man wished to fight with them, and they said to Aponitolau, "One of my fingers will fight with you. Don't say that you will fight with all of us." Aponitolau replied, "Do whatever you wish. I still want to fight you." The _alzados_ were angry. The bravest of them ran toward Aponitolau, and he threw his spear and headaxe and Aponitolau jumped. The _alzados_ were surprised, for he jumped very high, and they all began to throw their spears at him, and they ran and tried to cut his head off. Aponitolau jumped and he secured all their spears and headaxes, and he said to them, "Am I the next now?" "Yes, because we are now unarmed."

Aponitolau used magic so that when he threw his spear it would fly among them until they were all dead. When he threw his spear it flew to all the _alzados_ and killed all of them; so Aponitolau again used magic, and his headaxe cut off the heads of the _alzados_, and Aponitolau sat by the gate of the town. The little bird flew by him and said, "The good sign which I gave to you, father, was all right and you have killed all the enemies." Aponitolau said, "Yes." As soon as the headaxe had cut off all the heads from the dead _alzados_, he used his power again so that all of the heads went to Kadalayapan. The heads went first and he followed them, and the little bird always followed him.

As soon as they arrived at the gate of the town the little bird flew away and Aponitolau used magic so that the heads were stuck around the town. As soon as the heads were placed around the town, Aponitolau commanded all the people in his town to go and invite the people who lived in different places to come and attend his big party. He told them to invite all the pretty girls who never go outdoors. So the people went all over the world to invite the people to attend the party. As soon as the people arrived in Kadalayapan they played the _gansas_ and danced and Aponitolau said to Kanag, "Come down, Kanag. Do not stay always in the tops of trees. Come and see the pretty girls and see if you want to marry one of them. Come and get the golden cup and put _basi_ in it, and make them drink." The little bird said, "I prefer to stay in the trees and make the signs when anyone goes to fight." When Aponitolau could not make him become a boy and come down he felt very sorry.

When the party was over all the people whom they invited went home and Kanag said to his father, "Now that your party is over and the people have gone, I will go down and get the fruit of the trees to eat." [271] Aponibolinayen said to him, "My dear little son, do not go down and eat the fruit of the trees; we have all we need here. Forgive your father and me, we will not send you again to the field." Kanag did not pay attention and he started to go down. So Aponibolinayen and Aponitolau commanded the spirit helpers. "Go and follow Kanag wherever he goes, so that he has companions; do not leave him. Find a pretty girl for him so that he will not go down." Not long after they overtook Kanag in the forest and they all sat down and they said to him, "Wait here for us a minute, Kanag, while we find a toy for you." "No, I do not wish a toy; I am going down and eat the fruit of the trees." "No, please wait for us. It is very near; we will be back soon. If you do not care for any, you will see. Wherever you go we shall accompany you." Kanag answered to them, "Yes," and they went. As soon as they arrived at the well they used their power so that all the pretty girls who never go outdoors felt very hot, so that they all came to the well to bathe.

Not long after the pretty girls went to the well in the early morning, and their parents did not know about it. As soon as the pretty girl arrived at the well the helpers saw the girl who appeared like the flame of fire about the betel-nut blossoms. As soon as they saw her washing her hair, they went back in a hurry where Kanag was waiting. "Kanag, come and hurry and see the pretty girl." Kanag said, "I do not wish to see her. I am going down to eat the fruit of the trees," and they said again, "Please come; it is very near. If you do not like her we will go wherever you wish." So Kanag went with them, and when they arrived he flew to the top of the betel-nut tree, and he saw the pretty girl, and he flew to another betel-nut tree above her. "What can I do, if I become a man now? I have no clothes and headband." The helpers said, "Do not worry about that. Your father and mother told us to give you whatever you wish, and we have everything here." So Kanag went down and took the clothes and headband and he became a man. He went and sat on the girl's skirt and she said, "Do not harm me. If you are going to cut me, do it only in one place so there will not be so much to heal." "If I was an enemy I would have killed you at once." Kanag went to her and handed the skirt to her. Not long after he gave her betel-nut and they chewed. As soon as they chewed they saw that it was good for them to marry, for they both had magical power and Kanag told his name first and said, "My name is Kanag Kabagbagowan, who is the son of Aponitolau and Aponibolinayen of Kadalayapan, who did not like him, and they sent him to watch their mountain rice, and he became a bird which is a _labeg_." "My name is Dapilísan, who is the daughter of Bangan and Dalonágan of Kabno-angan." After that the girl was in a hurry to go home, for she was afraid her father and mother would see her, for they did not know that she had gone to the well. She did not want Kanag to go with her to the town, but he did not want to leave her, and the sun shone in the east. The girl went home and Kanag followed her.

Not long after they approached the town and Bangan was in the yard of their house, and Dalonágan was looking out of the door. Not long after she saw them. "What is the matter with Dapilísan? A boy is with her as she returns from the well," said Dalonágan. Bangan was surprised and he did not believe it, for their daughter never went outdoors. "If you do not believe it, look at them; they are coming here," she said. So Bangan turned and saw them. As soon as they arrived where Bangan sat, "Good morning, uncle," said Kanag. "Do not be surprised because I am with your daughter, for I am to be married to her. My father and mother sent me to our rice field and left me there alone, and I was sorry that they did not like me, so I became a bird which gives the sign to those who go to war. When my father went to fight I went with him, and he killed all the _alzados_ in one town and he invited all the people in the world to his party to see if any of the young girls pleased me, but I do not think they came here. I did not like to go to the pretty girls who attended the party, so I started to go down to eat the fruit of the trees, but they sent their spirit helpers to follow and take care of me. When I was in the wood the helpers met me and said 'Wait for us here while we go to find you a toy,' and I scarcely waited, but finally waited, and they made all the pretty girls go to the well, for they felt hot, so your daughter Dapilísan went to take a bath. When the helpers saw her they came to tell me and I did not wish to go, but they compelled me. As soon as I saw her I thought it was good for me to marry her, so I became a man and came home with her. If you wish me for a son-in-law I will be very happy." Bangan and Dalonágan said to him, "I wondered why my daughter went to the well. I did not believe that Dapilísan was there, and I am afraid that your father and mother will not like our daughter Dapilísan, for they did not send an engagement present to us." Kanag said to him, "This is why I came here, and they sent their spirit helpers with me to find a pretty girl to marry, so I will not go down. They will be glad when they know that I am here and want to marry your daughter." So Bangan and his wife sent someone to call Aponitolau and Aponibolinayen, and to tell them that Kanag was in Kabno-angan. Before the messenger arrived in Kadalayapan Aponitolau and Aponibolinayen knew that Kanag was in Kabno-angan, for the spirit helpers went to them when Kanag went with the girl to the town. Aponibolinayen and Aponitolau were ready to go to Kabno-angan before the messenger arrived in Kadalayapan. They went there directly, and they took many things to be used in the wedding.