Tales of the Mythical Period 139 



Aponitolau took the rice and meat and started for the field where their 

 son was. When Aponitolau appeared Kanag took his lipi nuts and he 

 played, and the mountain rice which he went to watch was not injured. 

 As soon as Aponitolau arrived to the place where he was playing, " Come 

 to eat, Kanag," and Kanag said, "I am not hungry yet. Put the food 

 in the house. I will play awhile first." When Aponitolau could not 

 make him eat he put the provisions in the house, and he went home and 

 left the boy. Kanag did not go and eat. The next morning Aponi- 

 tolau went to take him food again and as soon as Kanag saw him he 

 took his game and went to play. When Aponitolau arrived he called 

 him to go and eat, but he did not go for he wished to play, and he asked 

 his father to put the rice and meat in the house. Aponitolau was sur- 

 prised, because he did not eat, and the provisions for the first day were 

 still untouched. He asked, "Why do you not like to eat?" and he said, 

 "I am not hungry yet." When Aponitolau could not make him eat 

 he went home again, and Kanag used magic and he became a labEg. 1 



Aponitolau said to Aponibolinayen, "I wonder why Kanag does not 

 like to eat." " I think he is sorrowful, because he was sent to watch the 

 mountain rice." "What is the reason that you sent him to the field 

 when the fences are strong and no wild pigs can get in," said Aponi- 

 bolinayen. "You must cook and we will eat, and then I will go and get 

 him." Aponibolinayen went to cook. As soon as she finished cooking 

 they ate and after that Aponitolau took some rice and meat for Kanag to 

 eat. Aponibolinayen said to him, "As soon as he finishes eating bring 

 him home. Do not let him stay there alone. That is why he does not 

 wish to eat." Aponitolau said, "Yes," and so he went. When he 

 arrived at the field he could not see Kanag any more. He called to 

 him, and the little boy answered him from the top of the bamboo tree. 

 His father felt very sorry that he had become a little bird. "Why did 

 you become a little bird, Kanag? Come and eat. I will not send you 

 here any more." Kanag said, "I do not wish to eat and I would rather 

 be a bird and carry the signs to everyone." So his father went back 

 home and he was sorrowful. As soon as Aponitolau arrived in Kada- 

 layapan he said to Aponibolinayen, "Kanag has become a bird. Per- 

 haps he felt sorry because we sent him to watch the rice. He said that 

 when I am going to war he will fly over me, and he will give me the 

 good and bad signs." 2 



Not long after Aponitolau started out to fight. He took his spear, 

 headaxe and shield, and he went. When he was near the gate of the 



1 The omen bird. 

 1 See p. 19, note 1. 



