Chapter 17

When he reached the yard Wadagan went into the _balaua_ and laid down, and when Dolimáman returned she inquired for Kanag and she said, "Where is Kanag? Why can I not see him here?" Wadagan said, "I do not know. I think he is playing with the other boys in the east." Not long after Dolimáman went to ask Agtanang and Gamayawan, and she said to them, "Did you see our son Kanag?" "No, we did not see him," they replied. Not long after, while she was inquiring, they told her the truth, and they said, "He went to the well with his father and they carried a little raft which had just been made." Not long after Dolimáman went to the west of the well and she saw the marks of the raft in the sand by the river and she sat there for along time and Agtanang and Gamayawan shaded her while she sat there by the river.

Not long after the old woman Alokotán went to the well for she felt hot. As she was taking a bath she saw the little raft which was just made and said, "You new little raft, if the son of Wadagan and Dolimáman is inside of you, come here." So the little raft went to her where she was making a pool in which the dead or sick were put to restore them. As soon as she finished the pool she took him to her house and Kanag asked for something to eat. The old woman Alokotán said, "Go and eat, it is already prepared." So Kanag went and ate and he said, "Mother, give me that nose flute so I can play." So she gave it to him and he played. "Agdaliyan, you are feeling so happy while your mother is feeling unhappy, and is going to die by the river side," said the flute as he played. So he stopped playing and he said, "What is the matter with this flute? It sounds bad. I am going to break you into pieces." Not long after he asked the old woman Alokotán for the _bunkaka_ [282] and she gave it to him. When he received it he played, and the _bunkaka_ said the same as the flute. "What is the matter with this _bunkaka_ that it talks bad? I am going to break you." He put it down again and said to Alokotán, "Mother, I am going to play with the other boys." "No, do not go," said the old woman, but he went nevertheless to play with the boys.

Not long after he reached the _balaua_, and he met a little boy playing with _lipi_ nuts, and they played together. "Will you come with me to the place where my mother is while I ask for my tobacco?" said Dagoláyan. "If that is what you say we will go," said Kanag. So they went to the place where Dolimáman was and the milk from her breasts went to Kanag's mouth. "Here is my son now," said Dolimáman who was lying down and she sat up. "What is the matter of this woman, she called me her son and she is not my mother," said Kanag. "Where is your mother then?" said Dolimáman. "My mother is in Nagbotobotán and her name is Alokotán," said the boy. "Ala, let us go. Where is Nagbotobotán? Guide me," said Dolimáman. As soon as they arrived, she said, "Good morning, my Aunt." "Good morning also," said Alokotán. "My son is with you," said Dolimáman. "Yes, your son is with me, because I met him by the river near the well." "How much must I pay you, my Aunt, because you found him and he has staid with you," said Dolimáman to the old woman. "I do not wish anything, for my reason for taking him was so that I might have someone to inherit my possessions, because I have no child." "That is not my mother," said Kanag to Alokotán, and she replied, "Yes, that is your mother, but your father put you on the river when you were a little boy, and I found you there and I took you, so I might have someone to inherit my things." Not long after, "Ala, my Aunt, now we are not going home we will stay here, because my husband Wadagan does not like us." So they used magic so that their house in Kadalayapan went to Nagbotobotán, and the people were surprised at the noise made by the house when it went to Nagbotobotán. They saw that it was a big house all made of gold, and they placed it near to the house of Alokotán. Not long after Wadagan made _balaua_, because he could not find his family in their golden house.

Wadagan got out of the _balaua_ and said, "I am going to take a walk and see if I can meet Dolimáman and our house which is made of gold." Not long after he went to walk, and he did not meet any of them. "I am going to go to Nagbotobotán and see if the new raft went there." So Wadagan went and not long after, while he was walking, he reached the edge of the town of Nagbotobotán, and he saw the golden house, and he went to it directly, and he said, "Perhaps that was our house, for there was no other to compare with it." When he arrived in the yard he said, "Good morning." "Good morning also," said the old woman Alokotán. "How are you, my Aunt?" She said, "We are well." And he asked her if she had seen the little raft pass by and she said, "Yes, it passed by here and I took it." So they made him go upstairs and when he got up there he saw Dolimáman and Kanag, and Kanag did not know his father. "You call me father, for you are my son," said Wadagan to him. "No, you are not my father," said Kanag, "If you do not wish to call me so, then I will go home, and we will leave you here. Let us go Dolimáman. If Kanag does not like me it is all right," said Wadagan. "I don't like you, for you sent me away," said Kanag. "Go back home, we are going to stay here," said Dolimáman. So Wadagan went back home and he went everywhere and Dolimáman, Kanag and Dagoláyan staid in Nagbotobotán.

(Told by Madomar of Riang.)

25

There was a man Awig and Aponibolinayen, and there was a girl named Linongan. "Ala, you make Linongan start for she goes to watch the mountain rice. You cook for her so that she goes to watch and I go to guide her," said Awig. "Why do you dislike our daughter Linongan? Do not make her go to watch for she is a girl. If she were a boy it would be all right. You know that a girl is in danger. That is why you must not put her to watch the field." "No you give her cooked rice and cooked meat and make her start, for I am ready to go now," said Awig.

Not long after they went to the place where the mountain rice grew, and he went to station her in the high watch house. He commanded her to climb, and when she was in the middle of the ladder she was afraid, for she nearly fell down, it was so high. Not long after she reached the watch house. When she looked down it seemed as if her eyes fell down it was so high. "Ala, you my daughter Linongan live here and watch our rice, I will come to see you. Do not show yourself if anyone comes," said Awig to her and he went home to Natpangan. "Ala, you are so happy now, Awig, for you cannot see our daughter Linongan," said his wife Aponibolinayen, and Awig laid down in the _balaua_ and Aponibolinayen laid down in the room.

As soon as Awig left Linongan in the field, the tattooed _alzados_ went to the watch house, and Linongan laid down for she was afraid of them. When the tattooed _alzados_ looked up toward the watch house it seemed as if the moon shone, "Ala, we will go up and see what that is." They went up, and when they arrived in the place where the girl was they were surprised at her beauty. "We will not kill her," said the young men to the bravest of them. "Yes," said the bravest, "get away so I can see her, if she is very beautiful." When the young men got away he cut her in two at her waist. They took her body and her head and went home. "Why did you kill her," said the young men. "So that you do not get a bad omen, young men," said the bravest of them.

Not long after they had killed Linongan, "Why does my breast flutter so, Awig?" said Aponibolinayen. "I feel sad also," said Awig. "Ala, Aponibolinayen you cook food for me to take when I go and see our daughter," said Awig. Aponibolinayen truly went to cook for him. When Aponibolinayen finished cooking, "Ala, give me my dark colored clout and my belt which has pretty colors, so that I go at once to the place where the tattooed _alzados_ are. Perhaps they found our daughter. Look often at the _lawed_ which I shall plant by the stove. If it wilts so that its leaves are drooped, you can say Awig is dead." [283]

When Aponibolinayen thought he had arrived at the field she looked at the _lawed_ and it was green and flourishing. Not long after Awig saw the blood below the watch house. "Perhaps this is the blood of my daughter. I am going to see if they have killed her." He climbed up, and when he got up, the body and head were not there, so he went down. As soon as he got down he sat and he bent his head, "What can I do? Where am I going to go to find my daughter?" he said. Not long after he took a walk. When he reached the jungle he looked at the big high tree. ["We can see all over the world from the high trees." This was a side remark by the story-teller.] "The best thing is for me to climb so that I watch and see where the _alzados_ live, where my daughter is," he said, and so he climbed. As soon as he climbed up he saw all over the world. He looked to the west, there were no people there who celebrated. "There is no one there," he said. He looked toward the north. There were none there who celebrated. "There is no one there," he said. He turned his face to the east, there was no one there. When he looked in the south he saw the _alzados_ who were making a celebration; and they danced with the head of his daughter. "Perhaps that is my daughter," he said. "How terrible if it is my daughter," and his tears dropped. Not long after he went down. As soon as he got down, "If I follow the path I will spend much time. The best way is for me to go through the woods, to make the way short. I will go where they are," he said, and he went.

When he had almost reached the place where the _alzados_ were dancing he said, "What can I do to get the head of my daughter?" and he bent his head. Not long after he remembered to go and get the juice of the poison tree. As soon as he secured it he split some bamboo for his torch, as he went to the celebration of the _alzados_. As soon as he arrived there he said, "Good evening." "Good evening," they answered. He laid down the torch by the fire of the _alzados_, who thought him a companion. "Where did you come from? It has taken you so long to arrive we thought that you were dead. We did not meet you, but we found one lady who never goes out of the house, who is very beautiful, that is why we celebrate." "I took long because I was in the middle of the wood, for I wanted to get a head. I was ashamed to go back home without a head, but I did not meet anyone, so I did not secure one, for I had a bad sign. That is why I did not reach the town where I wanted to go and fight," he said. "Ala, make him sit down," said the bravest. "Yes," said _alzados_ and they made him sit, and they danced again. "Ala, you give him a coconut shell filled with _basi_, then he must dance, when he finishes to drink," said the bravest again. Awig stood up. "Ala, I ask that if it is possible I take the coconut shell, for I am the one who must give the people to drink, and when I have made all drink, then I will dance. I will make _kanyau_ [284] so that next time I may be successful," he said. "Ala, you give the golden cup to him, and let him serve us drink. As soon as he will make us drink we will make him dance." "Yes," they said. Not long after he took the cup and he used his power so that though he drank the _basi_ the poison which he put in the big jar would not kill him, and he drank first. As soon as he drank he made the bravest drink. Not long after he made all of them drink, and the _alzados_ all died, for he used magic so that when they had all drunk then they all died. He put a basket on his back, and he went to put the head of his daughter in the basket. He took the head into the middle of the circle, and he took all the valuable things which the _alzados_ had put on her. As soon as he got all the things he went home.

When he was in the middle of the field he turned back his face and saw four young _alzados_ who followed him through the cogon grass, and he used magic so that the flame of the fire was so hot that the _alzados_ who followed could not reach him. [285] When the flame of the fire was over he turned his face again when he reached the middle of the next field. He used his magic again so that the flame was so high there that the _alzados_, who always followed, could not reach him. As soon as the flame was gone they followed again, and Awig shouted. The _alzados_ were frightened and were afraid to follow him for they were then near to Kaodanan. "Ala, we will go back or the people of Kaodanan will inherit our heads," and they went back home. Those were all who were left for Awig did not give them poison.

Not long after Awig arrived in Natpangan. He went back to get the rest of his daughter's body from the place where the mountain rice grew. When he arrived in their house he joined the body and the head. They looked at her and she was sweating. "Ala, Awig you go and command someone to get the old woman Alokotán. When she speaks to the cut on our daughter's body the body and head will join better," said Aponibolinayen to Awig. Not long after, "Ala, you spirit helpers go to get old woman Alokotán of Nagbotobotán, so she will speak to the cut on Linongan," said Awig. "Yes," said the spirits and they went. Not long after they arrived at Nagbotobotán, "Good morning," they said, "What are you coming for you spirits," said old woman Alokotán. "'What are you coming for you say?' Awig sent us to call you and take you to Natpangan, for you to speak to the cut on their daughter, for the _alzados_ killed her when they sent her to watch the mountain rice." "That is why those people are bad, for when they have only one daughter they do not know how to take care of her." "Ala, what can you do, that is their custom. Please come," said the spirits. "Ala, you go first, and I follow. I ought not come for I want them to feel sorrowful for their only daughter, which they sent to the field, but I will come for I want Linongan to live. You go and I will follow," she said. "Yes," they said.

When the spirits arrived in Kaodanan the old woman Alokotán arrived also. As soon as she arrived she went at once where Linongan was lying. "Ala, you Aponibolinayen and Awig this is your pay, for although you have only one daughter you sent her to the mountain field," said the old woman Alokotán to them. Awig and Aponibolinayen did not answer for they were ashamed. When the old woman had finished to talk to them she put saliva around the cut on Linongan and caused it to join. When she finished joining it, "I use my power so that when I snap my perfume [286] which is called _dagimonau_ ('to wake up') she will wake up at once." When she snapped her perfume Linongan woke up at once. "I use my power so that when I use my perfume _alikadakad_ (sound of walking or moving) she will at once make a movement." When she snapped her perfume Linongan moved at once. "I use my power so when I snap my perfume _banawes_ she will blow out her breath!" When she snapped her perfume, she at once breathed a long breath. "_Wes_ how terrible my sleep was," said Linongan. "'How terrible my sleep' you say. The tattooed _alzados_ nearly inherited you. I went to follow you because they took you to their town and they danced with your head," said Awig.

Not long after Awig went to take four small branches of the tree and he used magic, "I use my power so that when the four sticks will stand they will become a _balaua_." He used his power and truly the four sticks became a _balaua_ and Aponibolinayen commanded someone to pound rice. Ten days later they made _Libon_, on the tenth night. When it became morning Awig commanded someone to go and get the betel-nut which is covered with gold. As soon as they arrived they oiled the betel-nuts. "Ala, all you betel-nuts, you go to invite the people from the other towns who are relatives so that they will come to make _balaua_ with us. You go to all the towns where our relatives live and invite them, and if they do not wish to come you grow on their knees." So the betel-nuts went.

Not long after the people whom they invited came to the place where they made _balaua_ and they all danced. The companion of Ilwisan of Dagápan in dancing was Alama-an. When Ilwisan stamped his feet the earth rumbled. When he looked up at Alama-an he said, "How terrible is the love of the ladies toward me; she thinks that I love her," but he wished to dance with Linongan. When they finished dancing, Asigtanan and Dondonyán of Bagtalan danced next. When Dondonyán shook his foot the world smiled and it rained softly. When they finished dancing, Iwaginan and Linongan, who never goes outdoors, danced. When Iwaginan stamped his feet, all the coconuts in the trees fell, and when Linongan moved her toes in dancing all the tattooed fish came to breathe at her feet for the water covered the town when they danced. When they were still dancing the water flowed, only a little while, and it was only knee deep, "Ala, you Iwaginan and Linongan, stop dancing because we are deluged," said Awig and the old woman Alokotán. They stopped dancing and the water went down again from the town. "How terrible are the people who are like Kaboniyan for they are so different from us," said the other people who went to attend _balaua_ with them.

Not long after, when all the people had finished dancing and the _balaua_ was over, the people went home and Iwaginan was engaged to Linongan. Aponibolinayen said, "We do not wish that our daughter be married yet," but Awig agreed. "Why do you agree, Awig, do you not like our only daughter?" said Aponibolinayen. "I like her, but it is better for her to be married. He seems to have power. Don't you know that a girl has many dangers? It is better for her to be married, because she is the only daughter we have," said Awig. Not long after they made _pakálon_. "Ala, now, sister-in-law, how much will we pay?" said Dinowágan to Aponibolinayen. "The _balaua_ three times full of jewels," said Aponibolinayen. "Ala, yes, sister-in-law," she replied. So she used her magic and the _balaua_ was three times full of jewels, and Aponibolinayen raised her eyebrows and half of the things in the _balaua_ disappeared, and Dinowágan used her power again and filled the _balaua_. "Ala, stop that is enough to pay for our daughter," said Aponibolinayen. "I pay now." "Yes," they said. "Now that we have made the payment we will go home," said Dinowágan. "If you do not let us take Linongan to Pindayan, Iwaginan will live here and I will come to visit them," said Dinowágan to Awig and Aponibolinayen. As soon as Dinowágan and her companions went home. "Ala, my wife we go to Pindayan to see our mother Dinowágan," said Iwaginan. "Yes, if that is what you say we will go," said Linongan. Not long after they asked Awig and Aponibolinayen, "You go, but do not stay long," they said. "Yes," they answered.

When they arrived in Pindayan, Iwaginan and Linongan went to bathe in the river, and Iwaginan saw the place where the _alzados_ had cut Linongan in her side, and he went to make a magical well in which a person can bathe and lose all scars and wounds; and it looked as if she had no cut and she was prettier, and they went home. When they arrived in the house Dinowágan was surprised, for she was more beautiful than before. "I made the magic pool and cured the cut in her side which I saw," he said. Not long after when they had been two days in Pindayan, they went to Natpangan.

26

Dumanágan sent his mother Langa-an to Kaodanan. When she arrived there she said, "Good morning Ebang," and Ebang replied, "Good morning, cousin Langa-an. Why are you coming here?" "I came to visit you." So they made her go upstairs and they talked. Not long after they all became drunk and the old woman asked if Aponibalagen had a sister, and they told her that he had one. Soon they agreed on the day for the _pakálon_.

When the day agreed on came, Aponibalagen put Aponibolinayen inside of his belt [287] so they went to Kadalayapan. As soon as they arrived at the gate of the town of Kadalayapan, Sinogyaman carried cake and rice to the gate of the town, to take away a bad sign if one had been seen while on the way. They did not like her so she went back to the town and they sent Kindi-ingan, and they did not like her either. As soon as Kindi-ingan returned they sent Aponigawani. When she arrived at the gate of the town they were very glad and Dumanágan thought that Aponibalagen had used his power so that the sweets, made of rice, were not in the basket until Aponigawani went to meet them at the gate of the town.

Not long after they went up to the gate of the town and they agreed on the marriage price when Dumanágan should marry Aponibolinayen. They said the price was the _balaua_ filled nine times. Not long after when they had paid they all danced. Then the people went back home and Aponibalagen and his people went back home also.

Not long after Aponibolinayen was very anxious to eat _biw_ fruit of Tagapolo. So Dumanágan went to get it for her. He arrived where the _biw_ was and he got some, and in a short time he returned to Kadalayapan and he gave the fruit to his wife to eat. As soon as she ate it she became well again. After seven months she gave birth and they called the boy Asbinan. As soon as the boy became large he went to play with the girls.

As soon as Asigowan of Nagwatowátan noticed the braveness of Asbinan she made _balaua_, and she commanded the people to pound rice. Not long after she commanded the betel-nuts to go and invite their relatives. The betel-nuts went to all the towns in the world and invited all the people. The next day they oiled the _gansas_ and the people played them and all the people who heard them danced for they liked the sound of them very much. So Asbinan went to attend the _balaua_. All the people arrived at the place by the spring and a big storm came and wet all of them. Not long after the people who lived in the same town as Asigowan, which was the town of Nagwatowátan, went to meet them at the spring, to give them dry clothes. They changed their clothes and went up to the town. As soon as they all danced Asbinan saw Asigowan and he wanted to marry her. So he gave her betel-nut to chew and they told their names, and when they had told their names their quids showed that it was good for them to marry. The father and mother of Asigowan were Gagelagatan and Dinowágan, but she lived with the _alan_. Her father and mother did not know her until she made _balaua_ and Asbinan did not know her until the _balaua_, then he married her at once.