Tales of the Mythical Period 119 



woman. She thought you were lost and took you to Nagbotobotan." 

 So Aponlbolinayen took them home. 



As soon as they arrived home Aponlbolinayen said to Aponltolau, 

 "Here are our sons whom I found. They said that they came from 

 Nagbotobotan and that Alokotan was their mother. I told them that 

 I was their mother, but they did not believe me." "I do not believe 

 that they are our sons, for our children were three little pigs." "I also 

 had doubts when I met them, but I pressed my breasts and the milk 

 went to their mouths, so I am sure that they are our sons." Aponltolau 

 was glad that they were men, for he did not want them when they were 

 pigs. 



Not long after Aponltolau said to Aponlbolinayen, "We are going 

 to make balaua, so that we can invite all our relations in the other 

 towns, especially Alokotan." Aponlbolinayen used magic, so that 

 when she put a grain of rice in each of twelve big jars they were filled. 1 

 Not long after Aponltolau commanded his spirit helpers to go and get 

 betel-nuts, to send to the relatives who lived in other plaGes, to invite 

 them. As soon as one of the betel-nuts arrived in Nagbotobotan it 

 said, "Good afternoon, old woman Alokotan. I cannot stay long. 

 Aponlbolinayen and Aponltolau sent me to invite you to attend their 

 Sayang." "I cannot go, for I am searching for my three sons." "If 

 you do not come I will grow on your knee." "You go first and I will 

 follow, but I cannot stay there long." Not long after all the people from 

 the other towns arrived and they danced until the old woman Alokotan 

 arrived. The three young boys went to hide when Alokotan arrived. 

 Not long after when the balaua was nearly finished, "I cannot wait until 

 your balaua is finished, for I am searching for my three boys." "Do 

 not go home yet, for we will see if they will come here to see the young 

 girls. Perhaps they are near here," said Aponltolau. Not long after 

 the three boys appeared to her and Alokotan was glad to see them. 

 "Where have you been, my sons?" "We came to this town and we 

 intended to go back to Nagbotobotan, but our mother Aponlbolinayen 

 saw us and she detained us, for she was sure that we are her sons. She 

 pressed her breasts and the milk came into our mouths." The old 

 woman Alokotan was surprised and she went to Aponlbolinayen and 

 Aponltolau and talked with them. "Are you sure those boys are your 

 sons? They are my sons. They grew up with me." "Yes, we are 

 sure that they are my sons, for the milk from my breasts went to their 

 mouths. I am surprised that they have become men, for they were 

 three pigs. I searched for them a long time. That is why I was sur- 



1 See p. 17, note 3. 



