136 Traditions of the Tinguian 



become a serpent. When Aponitolau and Aponibolinayen had killed 

 many animals and given much food to the searchers and they did not 

 find him, they stopped searching. 



Not long after Kanag thought he would go to the river where the 

 people took their baths. So he went. Not long after Langa-ayan was 

 anxious to wash her hair, so she went to the river and washed it, and 

 Do-ansowan washed his hair first and Langa-ayan helped him, for he 

 was her husband. As soon as she had washed his hair, he said to her, 

 "I am going to the town." So he went and left Langa-ayan alone by 

 the river washing her hair. When she had washed her hair she washed 

 her arm beads. While she was washing her upper arm beads she heard 

 a great commotion in the river, and soon after a big serpent appeared 

 on the other bank. Langa-ayan saw that it was a big serpent and she 

 was so frightened that she started to run, but the serpent said to her, 

 "Do not run, my aunt, I am not a real serpent, for I was a young boy 

 before." So Langa-ayan stopped and asked him why he had become a 

 great serpent. "Because I went to Hang to see the pretty girl, and she 

 told me that if I could get the perfume of Baliwan she would do whatever 

 I asked, so I went. I did not want to go, for I was not sure that she 

 told the truth, but she gave me her left bracelet, so I went. When I was 

 still far away from Baliwan I could smell the perfume, and when I 

 reached the tree I climbed it and I tried to break the stem which held 

 the perfume, and my companion saw that I was changing to a serpent 

 and he ran away. I truly became a serpent and now I have come here 

 and have met you. If you do not believe that I was truly a boy, I will 

 show you the arm beads." So he lifted his head and Langa-ayan truly 

 saw the arm beads around his neck. "My aunt, will you find out how 

 I may become a man again?" She said, "If what you have said is true 

 you follow me." So they went up to the town. 



Do-ansowan said to his wife, "How long you have staid at the river, 

 my wife." "I was there a long time, for I met a big serpent. If you 

 wish to see it, it is in the yard. He says he was a young boy and he 

 showed me the arm beads of a young girl, which he has about his neck. 

 I believe that he is a young boy who has become a serpent. When he 

 broke the stem of the perfume which the girl wanted he became a ser- 

 pent. He wants to know how he can again become a boy." "Ala, 

 if that is what he wants, you go and take him to my Uncle Ma-obagan." 

 So they went and when they arrived where Ma-obagan lived she said, 

 "Good morning, uncle." "Good morning," he answered. "The 

 reason I came is because a young boy who became a big snake is here. 

 Will you please put him in your magic well which changes everything 

 which goes in it and make him a young boy again?" " If he will go into 



