Chapter 6

Not long after, while they were talking he saw Asibowan break the fish stick and put it in the pot and he watched to see what would become of the stick. He saw that it became a fish. [135] She called often for Aponitolau to come and eat and he went and he said, "I want to wait until your husband comes, for it is not good for us to eat first, and it is not good for us to be eating when he arrives." "Come, it will be all right. We will eat now, and he can eat when he comes" said Asibowan. So he went to eat with her, for he was very hungry. He saw that she took all the rice and fish out of the pots, and there were only dishes for them. "What is the matter with this woman that she does not leave any fish for her husband?" he said to himself. While they were eating Asibowan told him that she did not have a husband and Aponitolau smiled. When they finished eating, they cut betel-nut for them to chew. "Now be patient for we must chew betel-nut, for it is not good for us to talk until we know each other's names." Asibowan said, "How can we chew betel-nut, for I do not chew for I am related to Kaboniyan?" [136] "You must chew anyway for we cannot tell our names unless we chew," said Aponitolau. When Aponitolau urged her a long time she took the betel-nut and they chewed. "Since you are the lady who lives here, it is best that you tell your name first," said Aponitolau. "No it is not good for a woman to tell her name first, so you must tell your name," said Asibowan. Not long after, "My name is Aponitolau of Kadalayapan who is the son of Langa-an and Pagatipánan, who goes to find a pretty girl who has power like me," said Aponitolau. "My name is Asibowan of Gegenawan, who lives alone in the field, who has no neighbors for this is my fortune," said Asibowan. So Aponitolau staid with her nine months and his father and mother were searching for him. They had many people searching for him and they killed many animals to feed the people until all their animals were gone. The bones which they threw away made a pile nine times as large as the _balaua_.

Asibowan became pregnant and not long after she gave birth. "What shall we call our girl?" said Aponitolau. "We will call her Binaklingan." When Asibowan bathed the baby it grew one span for she used magical power. So the baby grew one span every time. [137] Not long after she could walk, Aponitolau saw the pile of bones which the searchers had thrown away when they ate, and it was nine times larger than the _balaua_. "The best thing for us to do, Asibowan, is for us to go to Kadalayapan, for my father and mother are still searching for me and the people who are searching are eating all their animals." "The best thing for you to do is to go home and find a woman whom you should marry and then when you are married you make _Sayang_ [138] and I will come to Kadalayapan," said Asibowan, for it was not good for them to be married because she had less magical power than Aponitolau. "If you do not wish to go, I will take our daughter Binaklingan." "Wait awhile until we have commanded that a house be built for her to live in." Not long after they commanded that a house be made for Binaklingan, and it was all of gold. It was finished in the middle of the night and she used magic so that the golden house went to Kadalayapan.

When Aponitolau woke up early in the early morning he heard many roosters crowing and many people talking. "My daughter Binaklingan, how bad your mother is, for she sent us here to Kadalayapan without telling us," said Aponitolau. His daughter was very sorry but she played on the pan pipe. When it was morning Langa-an saw the golden house by their house. "Why there is a different house here. I think Aponitolau has arrived and maybe he is in that house," said Langa-an to Pagbokásan, [139] and Pagbokásan went outdoors. "Are you here Aponitolau? We had sought you for a long time, but did not find you. None of our animals are left alive," said Pagbokásan. "Why did you search for me? I told Sinogyaman and Sinagayan that I was going to fight. Did they not tell you?" said Aponitolau. "We thought that you encountered our old, dangerous enemies, for you have been away many months. Why do you have a daughter who is a young girl?" "Yes, Binaklingan who is here is my daughter, and her mother Asibowan with whom I lived for a long time did not want to come here to Kadalyapan, for she said I must find a girl suitable for me to marry and then we must make _balaua_ so that she will come to our town."

When they had been in Kadalayapan five days, they went to take a walk in the evening of the sixth day, and they went to the spring of Lisnáyan. As soon as he arrived at the spring he used magic so that all the pretty girls who never go outdoors felt hot and went to the spring to bathe. [140] Not long after Aponibolinayen felt very hot and she went to take a bath at the spring. Aponitolau saw her taking a bath and she looked like the half of a rainbow, and Aponitolau went to her, and Aponibolinayen saw him while she was bathing. "Do not wound me in more than one place so I will not have so much to cure." "If I was an enemy I would have killed you at once," said Aponitolau. Soon he cut a betel-nut into two pieces. "It is best for us to chew betel-nut for it is bad for us to talk when we do not know each other's names." Aponibolinayen did not wish to chew, but when Aponitolau urged her she chewed and they told their names. "My name is Aponitolau of Kadalayapan who is the son of Pagbokásan and Langa-an." "My name is Aponibolinayen of Kaodanan who is the sister of Aponibalagen who put me at the place close to the spring of Lisnáyan, for he does not wish anyone to see me, but you have found me." Not long after, while they were talking, Aponibolinayen used magic so that she vanished and she went among the betel-nuts on the branch of the tree. "Where did the girl go? I did not see her when she vanished," said Aponitolau to himself. Not long after he went home with his head bent for he was very sorrowful. When he arrived at their house, "Why are you bending your head Aponitolau?" said his mother. "What are you bending your head for? you say, and I went to the well of Lisnáyan and talked with Aponibolinayen, but after a while she vanished and I could not see her anymore." "Did you not give her any betel-nut?" asked his mother. "Yes, I did." "What are you so sorry for if you gave her betel-nut? you will find her bye and bye," said his mother.

On the second night he went again to Lisnáyan and he used his power so that all the young girls, were hot again so that they went to the spring. When he looked up where there were many betel-nuts he saw Aponibolinayen taking a bath. "I did not see you when you left me Aponibolinayen," said Aponitolau. "Now I am going to take you home." "No, do not take me for my brother will hate me. I do not want to go to your house." He took her to his town of Kadalayapan and he sent his mother to Natpangan to tell Aponibalagen that Aponibolinayen was in Kadalayapan. Not long after his mother Langa-an took her skirt and her hat which was like a bird and when she arrived at the gate of Kaodanan Sinogyaman was dipping water from the spring. "Niece Sinogyaman, where is the ford?" "Look there at the shallow place, for it is the ford." She took off her belt and she spread it on the water, and she rode on it to the other side, and then she took a bath. When she finished bathing she stood on a high stone and the drops of water from her body were agate beads with no holes. "How strange, the people of Kadalayapan are. They are very different from us," said the women who were dipping water from the spring. Not long after Langa-an put on her skirt, and when she finished she said, "Are you not finished dipping water, Sinogyaman? I want you to guide me to the house of my nephew Aponibalagen, for I have forgotten the way, for I have not been here for a long time." "No, I am not through, but I will show you the way, Aunt," said Sinogyaman, and she guided her.

When they reached the yard of Aponibalagen, "Good morning, Nephew." "Good morning, Aunt," he said to her. "Come up." Not long after she went up the stairs. "What are you coming here for, Aunt?" "What are you coming here for? you say. I come because I wish to see you." Not long after he went to get _basi_, and he had made her drink. When they had drunk, she said, "The other reason I came here, Nephew Aponibalagen, is that Aponitolau sent me, for he wishes to marry your sister." "I have no sister. I do not know what my mother did with her," he replied. "We have no daughter. Aponibalagen is our only child," said Ebang. While they were still talking they kept on drinking the _basi_. When the old woman Langa-an became drunk she told them that Aponibolinayen was in Kadalayapan, and Aponibalagen was surprised and his heart jumped. "I went to hide Aponibolinayen in Lisnáyan so that no one would see her, but now someone has found her." So Langa-an gave them the engagement present [141] and she asked how much they must pay as the marriage price. "You must fill the _balaua_ nine times," they answered. So Langa-an filled the _balaua_ nine times with different kinds of valuable things. As soon as she had paid the marriage price she went back home. When she arrived in Kadalayapan and reached the top of the ladder of the house she laid down and slept, for she was drunk. "How strange you act, mother. Why don't you tell us the news before you sleep?" said Aponitolau, and she said, "The engagement and marriage gifts were accepted."

In the afternoon they began to make _Sayang_. [142] Not long after the old woman Alokotán, who conducted the _Sayang_ and made them dance _Da-eng_, [143] arrived and she began to perform the ceremony. When it became morning, "You people who live with us, come and pound rice," said Aponibolinayen. So the people gathered and pounded rice for them. As soon as they finished pounding rice she commanded her _liblibayan_ [144] to go and get betel-nuts. When they arrived with the betel-nuts, "You betel-nuts come and oil yourselves and go to invite all our relatives, for we are making _Sayang_. Invite all the people except the old enemies," she said and when it became evening they made _Libon_ [145]

Asibowan was anxious to chew betel-nut and she went to search for one in the corner of her house and she found an oiled nut which was covered with gold. When she tried to cut it in two it said to her. "Do not cut me, for I came to invite people to attend the _Sayang_ of Aponitolau and Aponibolinayen." And Asibowan said, "I cannot go." "If you do not come I will grow on your knee," said the betel-nut. "No, go on my big pig." So the betel-nut jumped on the head of her pig and it grew very high, and the pig squealed. "Get off from my pig and I will come," said Asibowan. Late in the afternoon they saw her below the _talagan_. [146] "Asibowan is here now, Aponibolinayen, come and see her," said Aponitolau. So Aponibolinayen came and she took her to their house, and Iwaginan took two skirts and he made them dance. He danced first with Asibowan before he made the others dance and his wife Gimbagonan was jealous. When they finished dancing he gave the skirts to Aponibalagen and Sinagayan. As soon as Aponibalagen had finished Iwaginan made Aponitolau dance with Gimbagonan. While they were dancing Gimbagonan danced to the sound of the jars which she had about her neck and in her hair, i.e., she had necklaces of big jars and they stuck together so she could not hear the _gansas_. Not long after Asibowan wished to go back home. "Now I am going home, Aponibolinayen, for no one is watching my house," "No, do not go yet, for someone wants to marry your daughter Binaklingan." "I must go now, you take care of her." So she went back home and they did not see her. As soon as the _Sayang_ was over Dina-ogan was engaged to Binaklingan. Soon he paid the marriage price, and it was the _balaua_ filled nine times with valuable things.

Not long after all the people went back to their homes, and Aponibalagen was left alone and he acted as if he was drunk, but he was not drunk. He laid down in the _balaua_, and Aponibolinayen covered him with blankets. Not long after Aponigawani went outdoors for she felt hot, and Aponibalagen peeped at her. Not long after she went inside of the house and went into the ninth room, and Aponibalagen watched her. When it became night Aponibalagen went to the place where she was and Aponitolau did not see him. So he looked for her in the ninth room, and she was playing the pan pipe. While she was playing she saw a firefly, and she tried to hit it with her pan pipe, and Aponibalagen said "Do not strike me or you will hit my headaxe," and he became a man again. "How did you get in here?" said Aponigawani. "I came, because I saw you when I was lying in the _balaua_." He sat down beside her and tried to cut a betel-nut for her to chew. "We will chew betel-nut so we can tell our names," said Aponibalagen. She took the betel-nut and they chewed. "You tell your name first, for you live here." "No it is not good for me to tell my name first, for I am a woman. You are the first." "My name is Aponibalagen who is the brother of Aponibolinayen who is the son of Pagbokásan of Kaodanan." "My name is Aponigawani who is the sister of Aponitolau who is the daughter of Pagatipánan and Langa-an."

When they had been in the room nine nights Aponitolau went to see Aponigawani, and when he got to the room Aponibalagen was there. "Why are you here, brother-in-law?" said Aponitolau. "I am here, because I wish to marry your sister," said Aponibalagen. "If you want to marry her you must engage her and you come another day to make _pakálon_." [147] Not long after Aponibalagen went home and told his father and mother that they would go next day to make the _pakálon_ so he could marry Aponigawani. Aponitolau and his father and mother went to Kaodanan and took the marriage price before Aponibalagen and his people made the _pakálon_. Aponibalagen paid the same as Aponitolau did for Aponibolinayen. Not long after they returned to Kadalayapan and the next day Aponibalagen went and got Aponigawani. They danced for one month and then they took Aponigawani to Kaodanan, and all the people went home. This is all.

(Told by Lagmani, a woman of Patok.)

5

"Mother Dinawágan go and engage me to someone, for I want to be married. I like the sister of Aponibalagen of Natpangan" said Gawigawen of Adasin. "Yes," said his mother. So she took her hat which looked like the moonbeam and she started to go and when she arrived in Natpangan she said, "Good morning, nephew Aponibalagen." "What do you want here, Aunt?" he replied. "What do you want, you say, and I want to talk with you." "Come up, Aunt, and we will hear what you have to say." So he asked his mother Ebang to prepare food. As soon as Ebang had prepared the food and called them to eat, Aponibalagen went to get the _basi_ and they drank before they ate. And Ebang broke up the fish stick and put it in the pot and it became fish. [148] Not long after they ate, and when they had finished Aponibalagen said to Dinawágan, "Come and see this." "No, I better stay here." When Aponibalagen urged her she came in and he opened the _basi_ jar which was nine times inherited and as soon as they had drank Dinawágan said that she could not tarry for it was afternoon, "I have something to tell you, Aponibalagen." "What is it?" said Aponibalagen. "My son Gawigawen of Adasin wants to marry your sister." Aponibalagen agreed, so she gave a golden cup which looked like the moon as an engagement present, and they agreed on a day for _pakálon_. [149] Aponibalagen said, "Tomorrow will be the day for _pakálon_."

Dinawágan went home. "Did they accept our golden cup which looks like the moon, mother?" asked Gawigawen. "Yes. Tomorrow will be the _pakálon_," said the mother. Not long after she said, "All you people who live in the same town with us, prepare to go to the _pakálon_ of Gawigawen in Natpangan tomorrow afternoon." The people agreed and in the morning they truly started and they went. "You, my jar _bilibili_ which always salutes the visitors, go first; and you my jar _ginlasan_ follow, and you _malayo_ and _tadogan_ and you _gumtan_." [150] So they went first to Natpangan, and Gawigawen and the people followed them, and also eighteen young girls who were Gawigawen's concubines went also.

Not long after they arrived in Natpangan and Iwaginan and the other people went to attend the _pakálon_, and also many people from the other towns. When all whom they had invited arrived they agreed how much Gawigawen should pay for his wife. Aponibalagen told them to fill the _balaua_ [151] eighteen times with valuable things. So the _balaua_ was filled. Not long after they ate and when they had finished they went to the yard and they played on _gansas_ and danced. Iwaginan took the skirts and gave one to Nagten-ngaeyan of Kapanikiyan and they danced. [152] When she danced she looked like the spindle. She did not go around, but always moving and the water from the river went up into the town and the striped fishes bit her heels. Not long after they stopped dancing and Gimbagonan was jealous and she said "Ala, give me the skirt and I will dance next." "Do not say that Gimbagonan, for it is shameful for us," he answered her. Not long after he gave the cloth to Dakandokan of Pakapsowan. She danced with Algaba of Dagala. Not long after they finished dancing and Iwaginan made Aponibolinayen and Balogaygayan dance. He often went to fight in the enemies towns. Not long after Aponibolinayen went down from the house and the sunshine vanished when she appeared. She danced with Balogaygayan and when she moved her feet the water from the river went up again into the town and the fish bit at her heels as they did before. After they stopped Iwaginan made his wife Gimbagonan dance and she was happy when she danced with Aponibalagen. When they danced the big jars around Gimbagonan's neck made more noise than the _gansas_ and the jars said "Kitol, kitol, kanitol, inka, inka, inkantol."

As soon as they finished dancing the people said, "The best thing to do is to go home, for we have been here three months now." "We will take Aponibolinayen" said Dinawágan to the people who lived in the same town with her and she spoke to Aponibalagen. So they prepared rice and coconut soaked together and wrapped in leaves, and a cake made of rice flour and coconut shaped like a tongue, a rice cake, which was fried for Aponibolinayen's provision on the road. "You who live in the other towns who were invited, do not go home yet for we are going to take Aponibolinayen to Adasin," said Aponibalagen. Soon it became morning and they all went to Adasin and Gimbagonan carried two big baskets of cakes, and while they were walking she ate all the time and she ate half of them. When they arrived at the spring of Gawigawen of Adasin, they were surprised, for it was very beautiful and its sands were of beads, and the grass they used to clean pots with was also beads and the place where the jars sat was a big dish. [153]

"Go and tell Gawigawen that he must come here and bring an old man, for I am going to take his head and make a spring for Aponibolinayen," said Aponibalagen. So someone went and told Gawigawen to bring the old man Taodan with him to the spring. So Aponibalagen cut off his head and he made a spring and the water from it bubbled up and the body became a big tree called Alangigan [154] which used to shade Aponibolinayen when she went to the spring to dip water, and the blood of the old man was changed to valuable beads. Not long after they went up to the town and the place where they walked--from the spring to the ladder of the house--was all big plates. Gimbagonan sat below the house ladder, because they were afraid the house could not hold her, for she was a big woman, and she hated them and she said to Iwaginan, "Why do you put me here?" "We put you there because we are afraid that you will break the house and give a bad sign to the boy and girl who are to be married." [155]

Aponibolinayen covered her face all of the time and she sat down in the middle of the house, for Indiápan said that she must not uncover her face for her husband Gawigawen had three noses, and she was afraid to look at him. [156] But Gawigawen was a handsome man. Aponibolinayen believed what Indiápan had told her. Not long after Dinawágan spread the string of agate beads along the floor where Aponibolinayen sat. [157] After a month they were still there and the people from the other towns wished to go home, and Aponibalagen said to Aponibolinayen, "Ala, be good to your husband and uncover your face. We are going back home now." But Aponibolinayen would not uncover her face. Not long after all the people went back to their towns and Aponibolinayen's mother-in-law commanded her to go and cook. She did not uncover her face, but always felt when she went about, and when she had cooked, she refused to eat, but Gawigawen and his father and mother ate. When Gawigawen went to Aponibolinayen at night she changed to oil, and she did that every night, and they put the carabao hides under her mat so the oil would not drop to the ground. On the fifth night she used magic so that they could not see her go out and she dropped her beads under the house and then she became oil and dropped her body. So she went away and always walked and Gawigawen looked for her, for a long time. He went to Natpangan for he could not find her in any of the towns.

When Aponibolinayen was in the middle of the jungle she met a wild rooster which was crowing. "Where are you going Aponibolinayen?" it said to her. "Why are you walking in the middle of the jungle?" and Aponibolinayen said, "I came here for I am running away from my husband for I do not want to be married to him for he has three noses." "No, Gawigawen is a handsome man. I often see him, for this is where he comes often to snare chickens. Do not believe what Indiápan said to you, for she is crazy," said the rooster. Not long after she walked on and she reached the place of many big trees and the big monkey met her and said, "Where are you going, Aponibolinayen?" And she answered, "Where are you going, you say. I am running away because I do not want to marry Gawigawen." "Why don't you wish to marry Gawigawen?" "Because Indiápan told me he has three noses." The monkey laughed and said, "Do not believe that. Indiápan wants to marry Gawigawen herself. He is a handsome man." Aponibolinayen walked on and soon she reached a wide field and she did not know where she was. She stopped in the middle of the field and she thought she would go on to the other side.

Not long after she reached the ocean and she sat down on a log and a carabao came along. It passed often where she sat. Aponibolinayen thought she would ride on the carabao, and she got on its back and it took her to the other side of the ocean. When they reached the other side Aponibolinayen saw a big orange tree with much fruit on it. The carabao said, "Wait here while I eat grass and I will return soon." Aponibolinayen said, "Yes," but the carabao went to the place of the man who owned him and said, "Come over here, for there is a good toy for you." And Kadayadawan of Pintagayan said, "What is it?" "Come, hurry," said the carabao. So he combed his hair and oiled it and put on his striped coat and his clout and belt, and he took his spear and he rode on the carabao's back. Not long after Kadayadawan saw the pretty girl in the orange tree and he said, "How pretty she is!" And the carabao said, "That is the toy I told you about."