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“Goto watch our langpadan,[184] 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 Aponītolau said to Aponībolinayen, “Cook some rice and meat for I am going to our field and carry the food to Kanag.” So Aponībolinayen went to cook. As soon as she finished cooking they ate first. As soon as they finished eating Page 139Aponītolau took the rice and meat and started for the field where their son was. When Aponītolau appeared Kanag took his līpī nuts and he played, and the mountain rice which he went to watch was not injured. As soon as Aponītolau 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 Aponītolau 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 Aponītolau went to take him food again and as soon as Kanag saw him he took his game and went to play. When Aponītolau 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. Aponītolau 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 Aponītolau could not make him eat he went home again, and Kanag used magic and he became a labᴇg.[185]

Aponītolau said to Aponībolinayen, “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 Aponībolinayen. “You must cook and we will eat, and then I will go and get him.” Aponībolinayen went to cook. As soon as she finished cooking they ate and after that Aponītolau took some rice and meat for Kanag to eat. Aponībolinayen 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.” Aponītolau 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 Aponītolau arrived in Kadalayapan he said to Aponībolinayen, “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.”[186]

Not long after Aponītolau started out to fight. He took his spear, headaxe and shield, and he went. When he was near the gate of the Page 140town, 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. Aponītolau was happy for he knew that nothing would injure him.

Not long after they arrived at the alzado[187] town, and the alzados were glad when they saw Aponītolau 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 Aponītolau, 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 Aponītolau wished to fight all of them. The people were surprised that one man wished to fight with them, and they said to Aponītolau, “One of my fingers will fight with you. Don't say that you will fight with all of us.” Aponītolau replied, “Do whatever you wish. I still want to fight you.” The alzados were angry. The bravest of them ran toward Aponītolau, and he threw his spear and headaxe and Aponītolau 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. Aponītolau 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.”

Aponītolau 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 Aponītolau again used magic, and his headaxe cut off the heads of the alzados, and Aponītolau 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.” Aponītolau 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 Aponītolau used magic so that the heads were stuck around the town. As soon as the heads were placed around the town, Aponītolau 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 Page 141went 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 Aponītolau 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 Aponītolau 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.”[188] Aponībolinayen 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 Aponībolinayen and Aponītolau 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 Page 142a 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 Aponītolau and Aponībolinayen of Kadalayapan, who did not like him, and they sent him to watch their mountain rice, and he became a bird which is a labᴇg.” “My name is Dapilī́san, who is the daughter of Bangan and Dalonágan of Kabnō-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 Dapilī́san? 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 Dapilī́san went to take a bath. When the helpers saw her they came to tell me and I did not wish to go, but they Page 143compelled 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 Dapilī́san was there, and I am afraid that your father and mother will not like our daughter Dapilī́san, 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 Aponītolau and Aponībolinayen, and to tell them that Kanag was in Kabnō-angan. Before the messenger arrived in Kadalayapan Aponītolau and Aponībolinayen knew that Kanag was in Kabnō-angan, for the spirit helpers went to them when Kanag went with the girl to the town. Aponībolinayen and Aponītolau were ready to go to Kabnō-angan before the messenger arrived in Kadalayapan. They went there directly, and they took many things to be used in the wedding.

As soon as they arrived in Kabnō-angan they were glad to see that Kanag was a man again. Bangan and his wife asked if they liked Dapílī́san as a daughter-in-law, and they replied, “It is all right for Kanag to marry Dapílī́san. We are glad he found her and did not go down, and remain always a bird.” So they agreed on the marriage price, and Bangan and his wife said, “The balaua nine times full of different kinds of jars.” As soon as the balaua was filled nine times Dalonágan raised her eyebrows and half of the jars vanished, and Aponībolinayen used her power and the balaua was filled again, so it was full truly and Dalonágan said to Aponībolinayen, “The web of the spider will be put around the town and you put golden beads on it, and if it does not break Kanag can marry Dapilī́san.” When Aponībolinayen had put the golden beads on the web, Dalonágan said again, “I am going to hang on the thread and if I do not break it the sign is good and Kanag and his wife will not separate.” When she hung on the thread and it did not break they allowed Kanag to marry Dapílī́san. After that they played on the gansas and they danced. When they had danced all the guests took some jars before they went home. As soon as the people went home, Aponītolau and Aponībolinayen took Kanag and his wife to Kadalayapan. This is all.

(Told by Magwati of Lagangilang.)