52 Traditions of the Tinguian 



" Sinogyaman, come and oil my hair so that I can go to war," said 

 Aponltolau. "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 Sinogy- 

 aman oiled his hair. When Sinagayan finished cooking they ate and 

 started to go to GEgEnawan where Aslbowan lived. Sinogyaman and 

 Sinagayan did not want him to go, but Aponltolau 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, Aponltolau?" "Why do you 

 stand a long time, you say, and I am going to the town of Aslbowan, 

 whom every one says is a pretty girl," said Aponltolau to the bird. "Ala, 

 Aponltolau, it is best for you to follow me and I will show you the way to 

 the place where Aslbowan lives." Not long after they went and they 

 soon arrived at the town of GEgEnawan. "Ala, Aponltolau, I leave 

 you now for I have showed you the way," said the bird. So Aponltolau 

 went alone to the house of Aslbowan. When he reached the ladder of 

 her house Aslbowan was looking out of the window and she said, "Oh, 

 there is a rich gentleman. How are you? Where are you going?" 

 Aponltolau 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." Aponltolau 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 Aponltolau. 



Not long after, while they were talking he saw Aslbowan 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. 1 She 

 called often for Aponltolau 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 

 Aslbowan. 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 Aslbowan told him that she did not have a husband and 

 Aponltolau smiled. When they finished eating, they cut betel-nut for 



1 See p. 17, note 3. 



