Tales of the Mythical Period 167 



"What shall we call our son?" "We shall call him Asbinan, who looks 

 like the spreading branch of the betel-nut tree which looks pretty in 

 the afternoon," said Ligi, her husband. 



"Ala! AgbEn, my loving son, go to eat," said Ayo. "Mother — 

 pretty Ayo — I do not wish to eat when we have no fish roe." After 

 that Ligi went to his friends who use the big fish net in the ocean. "Ala, 

 my friends, search fish roe, for my son Asbinan wishes to eat." They 

 went to examine the bellies of nine baskets of fish, but there was no roe. 

 He went to his friends who fish in the river. "Ala, friends secure fish 

 roe which my son wishes to eat." Soon after, "How much do I pay?" 

 "You do not pay, for this is the first time you have come to buy," said 

 those friends who fish in the river. "AgbEn, my child, come and eat." 

 "Mother, pretty Ayo, I do not wish to eat the fish roe when there is no 

 dolang, 1 and I do not like to drink out of the scraped cocoanut shell 

 when there is no glass which comes from the place of the Chinese, and 

 I do not like to eat from the bamboo dish when there is no dish from 

 Baygan (Vigan)." After that Ligi went and got the cup and the dish 

 from the Chinese store. 



"AgbEn, my loving son, come and eat, for everything is here which 

 you wish," said pretty Ayo. When they had finished eating, "Father 

 Ligi give me your love charm 2 which you used when you were young, 

 for I wish to go to the place where the maidens spin at night." 



"Good evening, young girls," said Asbinan. "I do not like to light 

 my tobacco unless the fire is taken from the light of your pipes." They 

 were anxious to offer their pipes, but when TiningbEngan stubbed her 

 toe she stopped and Sinobyaman, who was the prettiest, was the one 

 on whom he blew his smoke (a part of the love charm). She vomited 

 and her eyes were filled with tears, and after that they went home, all 

 those who spun together. 



"Ala! go and fetch Asbinan, for she (Sinobyaman) turns over and 

 over and sways to and fro since he blew on her last night." They went 

 to get Asbinan who was sleeping, and he stepped on their heels as they 

 walked. 



"Ala, aunt, I cannot cure her unless we are married." Then they 

 decided on the day for pakdlon, and the price was the lower part of the 

 house filled nine times with jars, which are malayo and tadogan. Then 

 she made the cakes for the parents-in-law, and they carried the pig, 

 and they received the marriage price which was the lower part of the 

 house nine times filled. 



1 A low box-like table used by the Ilocano. 



2 Certain charms are still used by lovers to aid them in their suits. 



