Part 8

"Ala, now my cousin _alan_, we are going to take Aponitolau [164] home for you have said he is our son," and the _alan_ said, "Yes, take all of my things. I took him for I had no children to inherit my possessions." So they took them to Kadalayapan. The _alan_ went to the other part of the world, and Langa-an used magic so that the golden house which the _alan_ gave to Aponitolau went to their town of Kadalayapan. Not long after the golden house arrived and the people were surprised when they woke up in the morning and saw the big golden house. Not long after Aponitolau and Aponibolinayen and their father arrived there.

(Told by Magwati of Lagangilang.)

6

There was a woman whose name was Ginambo of Gonigonan, who went to fight Aponibolinayen of Kaodanan. When she reached the place where the spring was she said, "You people who are dipping water from the spring, whose place is this where the spring is?" "It belongs to Aponibolinayen of Kaodanan," they said and when they went up to the town they raised a clamor. "What are you so noisy about, you women who are like me?" said Aponibolinayen. "You ask why we are noisy? Because there are many women, who have come to fight against you, at the place where the spring is," they said, and Aponibolinayen hurried to take her spear. "What are you so noisy for, women like Aponibolinayen?" asked her father Pagatipánan. "What are we noisy about, you ask? Because there are many of my enemies at the spring." "Do not go Aponibolinayen, for I will go." "No for you are weak. What can you do now? Once you did kill people in the place where the spring is, and now perhaps it is my fortune," she said, and she went to the spring. She looked down and truly the enemies looked like many locusts about the spring. "Ala," said Ginambo of Gonigonan, "You people who live with me, you are anxious to carry away this woman whom we do not like." "Yes," they answered, "but only our names will go back to the towns we came from," i.e. they expected to be killed. Ginambo answered, "No, we are anxious to capture her without fail."

Aponibolinayen said, "You old enemy take this betel-nut," and she cut it in two and gave it to them. "How are we sure Ginambo of Gonigonan that only our names will not go back, we are afraid." Ginambo said, "Do not be afraid, but hurry to be brave." "Ala, now do what you can," shouted Aponibolinayen who stood on a high rock. When they started toward Aponibolinayen their spears looked like rain they were so many. She glanced off the spears with both elbows. "Now I am the next to throw my spears," said Aponibolinayen. "Yes, because all our weapons are gone," they said.

Aponibolinayen was next, she said, "I will use my magic, and you, my spear, shall kill six and seven at one time, and you, my headaxe, cut off their heads from the left side and from the right side, and in back and in front." "Ala, you spare me so that I may tell the people in Gonigonan where I live," said Ginambo. "Yes, but next month I will come to your town Gonigonan to fight," said Aponibolinayen.

Ginambo went home alone to her town. "Why are you alone?" asked the people who lived in the same town when she arrived. "What can we do, all my companions who went to fight are lost, because they did not throw their spears at Aponibolinayen." "That is what we told you Ginambo of Gonigonan when you started, but you did not heed, you know that the people of Kaodanan are powerful like Kaboniyan." [165]

Soon after that Gináwan of Nagtinawan said, "You people who live in the same town in which I live, let us go to fight Aponigawani of Kadalayapan." "No, we do not wish to go, because the people who live in Kadalayapan are powerful like Kaboniyan. We do not know whether she has a brother or not though someone has said that Aponigawani has no brother." "No we go," said Gináwan. "If that is what you say, we will go," said the people. So they went and they walked and walked until they reached the spring at Kadalayapan. Gináwan said, "You women who are dipping water from the spring, to whom does it belong?" "To Aponigawani," they said. Ginawan said, "Ala, you go and tell your bravest that we fight with steel weapons." The women who dipped water from the well said, "We do not know who is the bravest, whom we should tell, for Aponigawani has no brother." They went up to the town, and said, "Uncle Pagbokásan the place about the spring is filled with enemies." Then Aponigawani was in a hurry to go. "Do not go you will kill somebody," said her father. "No, father, the spring will be lost and then what can we do? Father, I am a woman and since I have no brother, perhaps it is my fortune to fight, for you are weak."

She took her skirt, headaxe, and spear and she went to the edge of the hill above the spring. She looked and looked at the place where the spring was for truly the enemies were thick like locusts about the well. "What did you come for?" she asked. "We come to fight the people who live in Kadalayapan, because we have heard that the woman who is always in the house [166] has no brother, so we have come to carry her away," they said. "Ala, if you wish to prove her bravery you take this betel-nut." She cut it in two pieces and gave it to them. "We asked you to excuse us from going Gináwan," they said. "Ala, you begin and see what you can do," said Aponigawani who stood on a high stone and she stood with her hands on her hips while they threw their weapons. "Now, I am next," she said. "You, my spear, when I throw you, kill at once seven and six; and you, my headaxe, cut off their heads from the left and right sides, from in back and in front." When Aponigawani had killed all of them except Gináwan and she had all their weapons, Gináwan said, "Please, my friend, let me live so that someone may go back to the town we came from." "Ala, yes, if that is what you ask, my friend, but I will come next to your town," she said, and Gináwan went home alone. Not long after that the month which they had agreed on came.

"Now, mother, go and make cakes and after that I will go to fight," said Aponibolinayen. "Do not go," said her mother Ebang of Kaodanan, but she could not detain her, so she made the cake, and when she finished, Aponibolinayen went.

"Mother, make preparations for me to go to war, for this is the month we agreed upon with Gináwan of Nagtinawan," said Aponigawani to her mother Langa-an of Kadalayapan.

Bye and bye Aponibolinayen who was walking in the middle of the road, stopped because she was tired. Aponigawani was also walking and when she looked up she saw a woman to whom none compared, and she was startled, and she said, "Here is a woman who looks like me. I do not like to approach her who looks like me, yet I am ashamed not to do so, for she has seen me," she said. "Good morning," said Aponigawani to Aponibolinayen who sat on a high stone by the road. They leaned their spears together between them and then they talked. "Now, my friend, where are you going," said Aponibolinayen. "I am going to war," said Aponigawani. "And where are you going?" said Aponigawani to Aponibolinayen. "I am going to Gonigonan, because the month which I agreed upon with Ginambo of Gonigonan has come," said Aponibolinayen. "Ala, let us chew betel-nut." "Yes, if that is what you say, we will chew betel-nut," said Aponigawani. After that they exchanged quids. And the quid which had been chewed by Aponigawani was covered with agate beads which are called _pinogalan_, and the quid of Aponibolinayen was covered with gold. Aponigawani said, "You are more beautiful and have more power than I, because your betel-nut is covered with gold." After that they spat in front of them. The place looked like the place where a child had been born. "Now, my friend, we are going to tell our names." "Yes," said each one, and they told their names. "I am Aponibolinayen of Kaodanan who has no brother, and Ginambo of Gonigonan came to fight against me and the month in which we agreed to fight has come, so I go meet her." "I go also to the town of Gináwan of Nagtinawan, because the month which we agreed on has arrived, my name is Aponigawani of Kadalayapan who also has no brother." "If that is what you are going to do, we will go first to Gonigonan, then we will go to the town of Nagtinawan," said Aponibolinayen to her. "If that is what you say we will both go." So they went.

Not long after they arrived at Gonigonan. "Now, Ginambo of Gonigonan I am here because the month which we agreed has come." "You people who live in the same town with me prepare, because the woman who always stays in the house in Kaodanan has come to fight against us," said Ginambo. "Yes, Ginambo, we will fight against her. We told you not to go against her before, because the people of her town are related to Kaboniyan. We do not know what magic they may use," they said. "Now, what can we do, we are lost." After that they began to fight. "Ala, you my spears and headaxes kill the people from the left and the right sides, from in back and in front," said Aponibolinayen and Aponigawani.

As soon as they commanded their spears and headaxes their invisible helpers flew and they went to Dangdangáyan of Naglitnan. "Oh, sir, you are so happy, who are in bed in the house. The people who live in Gonigonan have nearly killed your sister, because she went to fight against them," said the helpers. After that he went to bathe and wash his hair. "Ala, you three girls take the rice straw and wash my hair," he said, and the three girls washed his hair. After that he finished to wash and he went up to the town. As soon as they arrived in the town the three girls combed his hair. When they finished to comb his hair, "Now, you put little golden beads on each of my hairs," he said. As soon as they put all the gold in his hair he took his spear and headaxe and he went.

Lingiwan of Nagtangpan was in bed in his house. "Sir, you are so happy in your bed in your house, your sister went to fight and the enemies have nearly killed her," said the invisible spirit helpers. "Mother _alan_ I ask you if I have a sister? I never have seen her." "What can you do? I picked you up where you had fallen when your father was jealous of your mother," [167] she said. After that he hurried to start and he went.

When Dangdangáyan of Naglitnan was in the road, he sat down on a high stone where the two women had set before. How terrible it is that those women who never go out of the house have gone to war, for here is where they exchanged their weapons. While he was sitting, "Good morning, my friend," said Lingiwan of Nagtangpan. "Where are you going?" said the man who sat on the high stone. "I am going anywhere," he answered, and they talked. "We are going to tell our names, because it is bad for us when we do not know each others names." They cut and chewed the betel-nut. As soon as they chewed they found that they were relatives. "My name is Lingiwan of Nagtangpan." "My name is Dangdangáyan of Naglitnan. Let us go together when we go to fight." After that they went. When they truly arrived they looked into the town, they saw the two women who looked like flames of fire, because of their beauty. "How terrible that those ladies who always stay in the house have gone to war," they said. After that they went to them, and the people whom they killed were so many that the pig troughs floated in their blood. So they went to them. When the women saw them they said, "How terrible are those two rich men who have power." After that, "Oh, ladies how were you born," they said. "Why are you here you ask? Ginambo came to fight against us, that is why we are here in the town of Gonigonan." So Dangdangáyan went in front of them, and he scooped them up with his headaxe and put them inside of his belt. [168] After that the two men fought against the enemies. "Please leave someone to bear children," said Ginambo of Gonigonan. "If that is what you ask we will kill you last," they said and she begged mercy.

"Now we will go to Nagtinawan which is the town of Gináwan, with whom Aponigawani agreed to fight this month." After that, "You plunder and heads go before us to Kadalayapan, when you arrive at the gate you divide equally and part of you go to Kaodanan." So they went to Nagtinawan. When they arrived in Nagtinawan, "You Gináwan of this town now the agreed month is here." "How are you Gináwan? We told you not to go before and you went; now we will all be killed," said the people who lived in the same town. "Now we seek vengeance." They looked as if they cut down banana trees when they cut down their enemies. "Please spare me, and if you wish marry me," said Gináwan. "If that is what you say we will kill you last," but they did not kill her.

After that they went home and sent all the heads before them and also the plunder. After that they arrived in Kaodanan. "Good afternoon, Uncle," said Dangdangáyan to old man Pagbokásan. "Come up the ladder," he said. "You go and cook so that these boys may eat," he said. After that, "You go and get one jar of _basi_ which you used to like when you were young," said his wife Ebang. As soon as she said this they went and they drank, and Pagbokásan said to them. "This is reserved for Aponibolinayen to drink when she returns from fighting."

When the old woman had finished cooking, she took the rice from the jar and put it on the woven basket, and she took the meat from the jar and put it in the coconut shells, and so they ate. As soon as they finished to eat, "Now we are not going to stay long, because we must go home," they said. So Dangdangáyan dropped down the women who never go out of the house. "Why Aponibolinayen is here and Lingiwan also," they said. Dingowan of Nagtangpan took Aponibolinayen and put her inside of a big jar; then they went to Kadalayapan, because they went to take Aponigawani. When they arrived they said, "Good afternoon Uncle," to the old man Pagatipánan. "Good morning," he answered, and he was glad. "Come up," he said. When they went up the stairs they were given _basi_. While they were drinking they let Aponigawani fall in front of them, and they were all glad, because Aponigawani was there. "How fine that Aponigawani is here; we feared that she was lost," said the old man and woman. "Ala, boys if you go home now, return soon for we are going to chew betel nut."

As soon as they went _Lakay_ [169] Pagatipánan and his wife built _balaua_, and they called one woman medium [170] to begin their _balaua_. As soon as they built their _balaua_ they sent someone to go and secure betel-nuts which were covered with gold. Not long after the betel-nuts which were covered with gold arrived and the old woman Langa-an oiled them, and she used magic so that the betel-nuts went to invite all their relatives, who lived in other towns, to attend _balaua_ with them. She told the betel-nuts that if any did not wish to attend _balaua_ with them, to grow on their knees. As soon as she commanded them they went, and the betel-nut which went to Kaodanan arrived, "Good morning," it said to the old man, Pagbokásan who was lying in the _balaua_. He looked up and said, "Who was that," and he saw it was a betel-nut, covered with gold and oiled, and the betel-nut said, "I come to bid you attend the _balaua_ of Pagatipánan of Kadalayapan, because Aponigawani has returned from fighting. So they celebrate." Pagbokásan sat up. After that he went down out of the _balaua_ and the told people to wash their hair and clothes and to bathe so as to attend the _balaua_ of Pagatipánan of Kadalayapan. So the people who lived with them all went to the river and washed their clothes and hair, and took a bath. As soon as they finished they went home, and they started to go to Kadalayapan. Old man Pagbokásan took Aponibolinayen from the jar, and put her inside of his belt, so they went.

As soon as they arrived there the families who made the _balaua_ went to meet them at the gate of the town and made _alawig_ [171] for them. After that they stopped dancing, and they talked to each other, and the two young men who met Aponibolinayen and Aponigawani were with them, because they arrived at the same time. So the old man Pagatipánan said, "Ala, cousin Pagbokásan now we are going to chew betel-nut to see if those two young men who took home Aponigawani are our relatives," and old man Pagbokásan agreed. So they cut the betel-nut which was covered with gold for them to chew and as soon as they cut the nut they all chewed, and they all spat. The spittle of Lingiwan went to the spittle of Pagatipánan, and the spittle of Aponigawani, went there also. The spittle of Dangdangáyan went to the spittle of Pagbokásan and that of Aponibolinayen also, and thus they found out that they were relatives. Pagbokásan was surprised, for he did not know that he had a son, and Ebang took her son, and she carried him as if he was a baby. And Lingiwan was glad, because he had met his sister during the fight and Langa-an carried him as if a baby.

When they had learned that the boys who had carried the girls home were their sons they all went back to town, and their people who had been invited were there. As soon as they sat down Iwaginan commanded someone to play the _gansas_ and he took the two skirts and made everyone dance. His wife Gintoban who was a big woman, who used the big jars like agate beads on her head and about her neck, said to Iwaginan, "Why don't you, my husband, bid me dance? I have been waiting for a very long time." Iwaginan said, "Gintoban do not say that or I shall be ashamed before the people. Wait until I am ready for you." As soon as Aponibolinayen and Lingiwan finished dancing Iwaginan took the skirts from them and he gave one to Gintoban and the other to Ilwisan, and so they danced. And the big jars which she had hung around her neck made a noise and the earth shook when she moved her body. As soon as they finished dancing the people who went to attend _Balaua_ with them said, "Now we going to put the heads around the town and then go for it is nearly one month now and our families are lonesome for us." So they went to put the heads on the sticks around the town.

At that time the two _alan_ who had picked up Lingiwan and Dangdangáyan arrived. They did not wish to attend _Balaua_, but the betel-nut had grown on their heads and they had arrived very late. As soon as Lingiwan and Dangdangáyan saw them they took them back to the town. As soon as Pagatipánan knew that they were the _alan_ who took care of the boys he summoned the people around the town. They danced for one month. After that Langa-an and Ebang went to talk with the two _alan_, and said to them, "We are surprised for we did not feel our sons come out." The _alan_ said, "Lingiwan I picked up by the side of the road while you were walking, that is why you did not feel him; he was a little bloody when I picked him up, and I made him a man because I have no child to inherit all my things. Now that you found out that he is your son you come and take all my things in Kabinbinlan, as soon as the _Balaua_ is finished. As soon as you will get all of them I will fly somewhere." So when the people went home, after the _Balaua_ was finished, Lingiwan and Dangdangáyan went to follow their _alan_ mothers. As soon as they arrived in the different places where the _alan_ lived they gave them all the things which they had and they used their power so that all the things went to their town. When all the things arrived in Kadalayapan the people in the town were frightened, for there was a golden house. When the things arrived in Kaodanan the people were frightened for there were the valuable things which Dangdangáyan took with him.

After one month passed Lingiwan said to his father Pagatipánan, "You go and make _pakálon_ for Aponibolinayen for I want to marry her." So his father sent his wife Langa-an to Kaodanan to tell to the father and mother of Aponibolinayen that Lingiwan wished to marry her. So Langa-an took her hat which looked like the Salaksák [172] and her new skirt. As soon as she dressed she started and went. When she arrived in Kaodanan Pagbokásan was lying down in his _balaua_. "Good morning," she said to him. Pagbokásan was a in hurry to sit up and he said to her, "I am glad to see you, what are you coming here for in the middle of the day." "What am I coming for you say? I am coming to see if you want Lingiwan for a son for he wishes to marry Aponibolinayen." Pagbokásan took her to his house and said to his wife, "Here is cousin Langa-an who came to see us." So Ebang told him that he should get some old _basi_ for them to drink.