106 Traditions of the Tinguian 



cannot go to Sudlpan 1 when no one is making balaua, for I always make 

 dawak as the anitos taught me. If I come in Sudipan when no one is 

 making balaua it would make all of the people very ill. So Kanag went 

 home. 



As soon as he arrived he told his father and mother to make balaua 

 for he wanted his sister to see them. "We just made balaua. How 

 can we make balaua again?" said his father and mother. "I want you 

 to see my sister whom I found up in the air, where the anitos took her." 

 "You are crazy, Kanag; you have no sisters or brothers; you are the 

 only child we have." Kanag said to them, "It is sure that I have a 

 sister. I don't know why you did not know about her. The anitos 

 took her when she was a little baby and they taught her how to make 

 dawak, and she always makes dawak. I wanted to bring her when I 

 came back, but she said she could not come to Sudipan when no one 

 makes balaua, for she is always making dawak. She said if she came to 

 Sudipan and did not make dawak everyone would be ill, so I did not 

 bring her. If you wish to see your daughter, father, make balaua at 

 once." So they made balaua, for they wished to see their daughter. 



They sent messengers to go and get betel-nuts which were covered 

 with gold, and when they had secured the betel-nuts they oiled them 

 and sent them to the different towns where their relatives lived, and 

 they sent one into the air to go and get their daughter Agten-ngaEyan. 

 So all the betel-nuts went and invited the people to the balaua. As 

 soon as the betel-nut went up into the air it arrived where Agten- 

 ngaEyan was making dawak. When she saw the betel-nut beside her 

 she was startled, for it was covered with gold. She tried to cut it up, 

 for she wished to chew it, and the betel-nut said, "Do not cut me, for 

 your brother and father in Kadalayapan sent me to summon you to their 

 balaua, for they are anxious to see you. So Agten-ngaEyan told the 

 anitos that a betel-nut which was covered with gold had come to take 

 her to Aponltolau who was making Sayang, and they wished to see her. 

 The anitos let her go, but they advised her to return. So she went. 



When they arrived in Kadalayapan the people from the other 

 towns were dancing and she went below the talagan 2 and Kanag went 

 to see what it was that looked like a flame beneath the talagan. When 

 he reached her he saw it was his sister and he tried to take her away 

 from the talagan, and she said to him, "I cannot get off from here, for 

 the anitos who care for me told me to stay here until someone comes 

 to make dawak with me." So they sent the old woman Alokotan to 



1 The spirit's word for world. 



2 A small bench made for the use of spirits and visiting mortals. 



