The inhabitants of the universe consist chiefly of an incalculable number of greater and lesser deities and spirits.[35] In addition to these, there are the souls of men, animals, and plants. They have always existed in the various regions of the universe, and were brought to the Earth World by the gods. Men are descended from the gods of the Sky World, as we shall see in the myths.
The mythology of the Kián͠gan Ifugaos is rich and varied. As an introduction to it, I have selected the following:
Origin of the Ifugaos[36]
I
Origin of the mountains.—The first son of Wígan, called Kabigát, went from the sky region Húdog to the Earth World to hunt with dogs. As the earth was then entirely level, his dogs ran much from one side to another, pursuing the quarry, and this they did without Kabigát hearing their barking. In consequence of which, it is reported that Kabigát said: “I see that the earth is completely flat, because there does not resound the echo of the barking of the dogs.[37]” After becoming pensive for a little while, he decided to return to the heights of the Sky World. Later on he came down again with a very large cloth, and went to close the exit to the sea of the waters of the rivers, and so it remained closed. He returned again to Húdog, and went to make known to Bon͠gábon͠g that he had closed the outlet of the waters. Bon͠gábon͠g answered him: “Go thou to the house of the Cloud, and of the Fog, and bring them to me.” For this purpose he had given permission beforehand to Cloud and Fog, intimating to them that they should go to the house of Baiyuhíbi,[38] and so they did. Baiyuhíbi brought together his sons Tumiok, Dumalálu, Lum-údul, Mumbatánol, and Inaplíhan, and he bade them to rain without ceasing for three days. Then Bon͠gábon͠g called to X ... and to Man͠giuálat, and so they ceased. Wígan said, moreover, to his son Kabigát: “Go thou and remove the stopper that thou hast placed on the waters,” and so he did. And in this manner, when the waters that had covered the earth began to recede, there rose up mountains and valleys, formed by the rushing of the waters.[39] Then Bon͠gábon͠g called Mumbá’an that he might dry the earth, and so he did.
II
The first inhabitants of the Earth World.—Such being the state of affairs, Kabigát went to hunt once again; and, while following the dogs, that were chasing a quarry, he made a thrust with his spear into a spring (or fountain) at the foot of a large tree. Immediately Kabigát returned to Húdog, bringing with him the captured quarry. When he had dressed and eaten the savory game, Kabigát said to his father Wígan that he had seen on the Earth World a spring and very good and beautiful trees for timber with which to make houses, and that accordingly he was desirous of going down to live at such a delightful place. His father answered him that if he so desired he might do so.
Some time after Kabigát had departed, and after he had cut excellent timber wherewith to build a house, Wígan said to his daughter Búgan: “Look, daughter! Thy brother Kabigát is down in Kai-án͠g building a house. I think that it would behoove thee to look after his meals.” Búgan volunteered to descend with such a design. This intention having been carried out, she lodged herself in the upper part of the house, and her brother dwelt in the lower part.
In the meantime, Kabigát, reflecting on his solitude and want of company, and, seeing that the domestic chickens, even though related among themselves, produced other roosters and hens, resolved to know carnally his sister Búgan, during her sleep. Some time having expired, the sister noted that she had fruit in her womb. * * * Such was the sadness and melancholy that came upon her, that she did nothing else but to weep and bewail herself, and to seek by some means alleviation for her sorrow through a violent death. She pretended to her brother that she was going to look for ísda,[40] but what she did was to follow the course of the river until she arrived at its mouth in Lágud (the Eastern World). Upon arriving at the shore of the sea, she remained there weeping and waiting for someone to take away her life in a violent way. Soon her brother Kabigát (who had followed her) appeared there, and Búgan, upon discerning him, cast herself into the depths; but, instead of going to the bottom, she stopped at the rice granary of N͠gílîn Man͠gón͠gol. The brother, who witnessed the tragedy, did not stop at trifles but at once cast himself after her into the depths of the ocean, stopping, by a strange coincidence, at the very same rice granary as his fugitive sister and spouse. She continued there, bemoaning her misfortune, when, behold! N͠gílîn, hearing her plaint, approached and inquired the cause of her affliction. She related to him her trouble, how she had conceived by her carnal brother when she was asleep. N͠gílîn soothed her as follows: “Do not be afflicted, daughter, by that. Are not the fowls of Kai-án͠g related among themselves, and yet they beget just like those that are not so?” The maiden became somewhat calm, but still, out of shame for what had happened, she refused to eat what N͠gílîn offered her. Then he said to her: “In order that thou mayst further assure thyself of what I tell thee, and in order that thou mayst quiet thyself, let us go and consult my elder brother Ambúmabbákal.” And so they did. Ambúmabbákal, having been informed of the circumstances, burst out laughing and said to them: “Peradventure have ye not done well and righteously, there not being in existence any others but yourselves to procreate? However, for greater assurance, let us all go together to set forth the case before Muntálog my father.” Muntálog, having heard their story, applauded the conduct of the solitary brother and sister. He told them, accordingly, to calm themselves and to rest there for a few days,—and so they did.