Part 6

"I am going to wash my hair. Give me the rice straw, which has been inherited nine times," said Aponitolau to his mother Langa-an. So Langa-an gave him some and he went to the river to wash. As soon as he arrived at the well he saw the pretty girl who was washing her hair. He went and sat down on her skirt and the pretty girl told him not to cut her in many places so she would not need to doctor the wounds. "If I were an old enemy I would have killed you at the first. It is bad for us to talk when we do not know each other's names. Let us chew betel-nut," said Aponitolau. "No, for it is not my custom," said the girl. But Aponitolau compelled her to chew betel-nut with him. "You tell your name first," he said to her. "No, it is not good for me to tell my name first, for I am a woman. You are a man. You tell your name first." So Aponitolau said, "My name is Aponitolau of Kadalayapan who am the son of Langa-an and Pagatipánan, who came here to wash my hair. It is good fortune for me that I met you here washing your hair." "My name is Gimbangonan of Natpangan, who am the daughter of It-tonagan, who is the sister of Aldasan." As soon as she told her name she disappeared and went to hide among the betel nuts on the branch of a tree. So Aponitolau was very sorry and he went back home without washing his hair. As soon as he arrived where Langa-an was sitting he said to her "Mother, when I arrived at the well by the river I met a pretty girl whose name was Gimbangonan, the daughter of It-tonagan of Natpangan. We chewed betel-nuts and told our names, but as soon as she told her name she disappeared and I could not see her. She said that she lived in Natpangan. I want to marry her. Will you go and arrange the _pakálon?"_ [125] So Langa-an went at once and got her hat which was as large as the _salakasak_ [126] for she saw that Aponitolau was sorrowful.

When she took her hat it clucked. [127] "Why does my hat cluck when I take it down? I think they do not like you, Aponitolau," said Langa-an. "No, you go and try." So Langa-an went again to get her hat and again it clucked, but nevertheless she took it and went. When she was in the middle of the way the head of the hat which was like a bird swung and made Langa-an turn her head and it clucked again. Langa-an sat down by the trail and wondered what would happen. Not long after she went on again and she met Asindamáyan near the ford. She asked where the ford was and when Asindamáyan told her, she spread her belt on the water and it ferried her across. Not long after she reached the other side of the river, and she inquired for the house of Gimbangonan. Asindamáyan answered, "You look for the house where many people are putting props under the house. That is the house of Gimbangonan. Her porch has many holes in it."

When Langa-an arrived at the house she said, "Good afternoon." And It-tonagan and Gimbangonan answered, "Good afternoon." They invited her to go up into the house and she went. "Why do you come here, Aunt?" said Gimbangonan. "I came to arrange for you to marry Aponitolau, for he wants to marry you and has sent me to talk about the _pakálon_." Gimbangonan was very happy and said to her mother, "You tell him yes, for I wish to marry Aponitolau." So It-tonagan agreed to the marriage and Langa-an asked how much the marriage price would be. "The regular custom of the people with magical power which is the _balaua_ nine times full," said Aldasan, because It-tonagan was always restless and was walking outside the house. So Langa-an left a little jar and agate bead, as a sign of the engagement, for Gimbangonan. Not long after she went back home to Kadalayapan. When she arrived where Aponitolau was lying down she said, "_Wes_" for she was tired and Aponitolau heard her and he went and inquired what was the matter. His mother answered that they had agreed on the marriage and the next day he could go and marry Gimbangonan.

As soon as the next day came they prepared jars of _basi_, [128] and pigs to be carried to Natpangan, and Aponitolau carried one large empty jar. [129] So they went. As soon as they arrived Aponitolau asked where Gimbangonan was, and the people said, "Look at the big woman." He looked and saw that she was a very big woman and Aponitolau cried, for she was not the girl he had seen before, and he bent his head. While the old men were talking to each other Gimbangonan said to Aponitolau, "Come here, Aponitolau. Be very happy. Why do you bend your head?" Aponitolau did not listen, and he did not go. Not long after Langa-an and the others went back home and left Aponitolau to be joined to Gimbangonan. Aponitolau was afraid to go to Gimbangonan, for she was a very big woman. She called to him all the time, but he did not go to her. It-tonagan was restless and did not stay in the house even in the night, and they could not sleep.

After ten days Aponitolau said, "I am going to Kadalayapan for a little while. I will return soon." "If you go to Kadalayapan I will go with you," she said. "Do not go this time and I will take you next time," he said, and he went. When he was near the gate of the town of Kadalayapan he hung his head until he reached his house. His mother asked why he hung his head. "I do not wish to marry Gimbangonan for she is not the woman I met by the river." "Do not be angry with me for I did what you wished. I would not have engaged you to Gimbangonan if you had not sent me." They sent their _liblibayan_ [130] to go and get betel-nuts which were covered with gold, for they intended to make _Sayang_, so that they could find out who the woman was who had been by the river. Soon the _liblibayan_ returned and they said, "We did not get the betel-nuts which you desired for we found a pretty toy among the branches of the tree." Aponitolau took the branch of the tree which shone as if covered with fire and he put a blanket on it and many pillows around it. As soon as they had again commanded the _liblibayan_ to get the betel-nuts they went and soon they arrived with the fruit. They oiled the betel-nuts and sent them to every place in the world and if anyone refused to come they were to grow on their knees. Not long after the betel-nuts went to the different towns and invited all the people.

When they arrived they danced and Aponitolau looked at them to see if the woman he met at the river was there, but she was not among them, and he wondered what had become of the woman, for the betel-nuts had gone to all parts of the world. Aponitolau went into the house for he was sorrowful, and he laid down near the blankets and he noticed that the blankets appeared as if on fire and he was frightened. [131] He got up and unwrapped the blankets and he saw a pretty girl. "I did not think you were here. I have been engaged. You said your name was Gimbangonan, and I sent my mother to engage me to you, but when I saw Gimbangonan she was a big woman so I left her and came here to make _balaua_ so I might find you. You cannot escape from me now for I shall hold your hand. Let us chew betel-nut." So they chewed and Aponitolau said, "My name is Aponitolau of Kadalayapan who is the son of Langa-an and Pagbokásan to whom you told a lie for you said you were Gimbangonan, and now I want to know your real name." "My name is Aponibolinayen of Natpangan who is the daughter of Ebang and Pagatipánan." When they had told their names they saw that they were related and that they both possessed magical power, so they were married.

After three days, Aponitolau said to Aponibolinayen, "Wait for me in the house. Do not be lonesome, for our mother is here. I am going to see my pasture." "Do not stay long," said Aponibolinayen. "If anyone comes you hide in the house," said Aponitolau. Not long after he went and when he arrived in the pasture all the jars went around him and all the jars stuck out their tongues for they were very hungry for they had not been fed for a long time. The jars were _somadag, ginlasan, malayo_, and _tadogan_, and other kinds also. [132] When Aponitolau thought that all the jars had arrived where he was he fed them with betel-nut, first covered with _lawed_ [133] leaves. As soon as he had fed them he gave them some salt. Not long after he went back home and he rode on a carabao.

When he arrived at their house he called to Aponibolinayen, but no one answered him and he was surprised. So he hurried to the house and he saw that Aponibolinayen was dead and he was grieved. He took her in his lap and while her body was in his lap it began to sweat. He used his power so that when he whipped [134] his perfume _banawes_ she said, "_Wes_." When he whipped his perfume _dagimonau_ she awoke. When he whipped his perfume _alikadakad_ she stood up and said, "I told you not to go, Aponitolau, but you went anyway. A big woman came here and stole all my things and killed me. I don't know who she was." Aponitolau called his mother and asked who it was and his mother replied that it was Gimbangonan. So Aponitolau went to Natpangan. "Why did you go to kill Aponibolinayen?" "I went to kill her for you do not care for me any more." "I do not like you, for you are a very big woman. Every time you step the floor is broken. If you come again to Kadalayapan I will cut your head off. Do not come again to harm Aponibolinayen." He went home to Kadalayapan and he divorced Gimbangonan.

Not long after they went to the pasture and they rode on the back of a carabao. As soon as they arrived, all the jars rolled around them and stuck out their tongues and Aponibolinayen was afraid, for she feared the jars would eat them. The wide field was full of jars. Aponitolau gave them betel-nut and _lawed_ vine and salt. As soon as they fed them they went back home. Not long after Aponibolinayen said to Aponitolau, "We are going to Natpangan to visit my father and mother," so they went. As soon as they arrived there Aponibolinayen told her father and mother that Aponitolau had a pasture filled with many different kinds of jars, in the place of Kabinalan. When they had been in Natpangan ten days they returned home and Aponibolinayen's father and mother went with them and saw the jars. When they reached the field where the jars were they were afraid that the jars would eat them, but Aponitolau fed them. The father and mother of Aponibolinayen were surprised for there were many valuable jars which filled the wide field of Kabinalan. Not long after they went back home to Natpangan.

(Told by Angtan, a woman of Lagangilang.)

4

"Sinogyaman, come and oil my hair so that I can go to war," said Aponitolau. "And you, Sinagayan, put some rice in the pot and cook it, and also some fish for us to eat." Not long after she cooked, and Sinogyaman oiled his hair. When Sinagayan finished cooking they ate and started to go to Gegenawan where Asibowan lived. Sinogyaman and Sinagayan did not want him to go, but Aponitolau went anyway.

When he arrived at the edge of the town he stood still a long time, for he did not know the way to Gegenawan. A bird went to him and said, "Why do you stand here for a long time, Aponitolau?" "Why do you stand a long time, you say, and I am going to the town of Asibowan, whom every one says is a pretty girl," said Aponitolau to the bird. "Ala, Aponitolau, it is best for you to follow me and I will show you the way to the place where Asibowan lives." Not long after they went and they soon arrived at the town of Gegenawan. "Ala, Aponitolau, I leave you now for I have showed you the way," said the bird. So Aponitolau went alone to the house of Asibowan. When he reached the ladder of her house Asibowan was looking out of the window and she said, "Oh, there is a rich gentleman. How are you? Where are you going?" Aponitolau said, "I am going to Nagsingkawan, but I have lost my way and I thought that this was Nagsingkawan. I saw this house so I came to get a drink." "This is not Nagsingkawan. Come up and I will cook and we will eat." Aponitolau went up into the house and the girl gave him water to drink. She cooked and then she called him. "I do not want to eat yet. I will rest for awhile and eat when your husband comes," said Aponitolau.

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.