100 The Philippine Journal of Science mu 



They have always existed in the various regions of the universe, 

 and were brought to the Earth World by the gods. Men are 

 descended from the gods of the Sky World, as we shall see in 

 the myths. 



The mythology of the Kiangan Ifugaos is rich and varied. 

 As an introduction to it, I have selected the following: 



OEIGIN OF THE IFUGAOS " 



Origin of the mountains. — The first son of Wigan, called Kabigat, f 



went from the sky region Hiidog to the Earth World to hunt with dogs. 

 As the earth was then entirely level, his dogs ran much from one 

 side to another, pursuing the quarry, and this they did without Kabigat \ 



hearing their barking. In consequence of which, it is reported that 

 Kabigat said: "I see that the earth is completely flat, because there 

 does not resound the echo of the barking of the dogs.''" After becoming 

 pensive for a little while, he decided to return to the heights of the Sky 

 World. Later on he came down again with a very large cloth, and wenT 

 to close the exit to the sea of the waters of the rivers, and so it 

 remained closed. He returned again to Hiidog, and went to make known 

 to Bongabong that he had closed the outlet of the waters. Bongabong 

 answered him: "Go thou to the house of the Cloud, and of the Fog, and 

 bring them to me." For this purpose he had given permission before- 

 hand to Cloud and Fog, intimating to them that they should go to the 

 house of Baiyuhibi,'' and so they did. Baiyuhibi brought together his 

 sons Tumiok, Dumalalu, Lum-iidul, Mumbatanol, and Inaplihan, and he 

 bade them to rain without ceasing for three days. Then Bongabong 

 called to X . . . and to Mangiualat, and so they ceased. Wigan said, 

 moreover, to his son Kabigat: "Go thou and remove the stopper that 

 thou hast placed on the waters," and so he did. And in this manner, 

 when the waters that had covered the earth began to recede, there rose 

 up mountains and valleys, formed by the rushing of the waters." Then 

 Boiigabong called Mumba'an that he might dry the earth, and so he did. 



II 



The first inhabitants of the Earth World. — Such being the state of 

 affairs, Kabigat went to hunt once again; and, while following the dogs, 

 that were chasing a quarry, he made a thrust with his spear into a 



" Collected by Juan Fernandez Villaverde, in 1894, from a celebrated 

 Ifugao priest, Duminong of Kiangan. Translated, corrected, and annotated 

 by myself with the assistance of Mr. John M. Garvan. 



" This statement is significant, as it shows an understanding of the 

 true cause of the echo. Ifugao cosmographical and astronomical knowl- 

 edge is not very primitive, as a careful study of this myth will clearly 

 demonstrate. 



" God of the rain. 



"Ifugao knowledge of the part played by erosion in the formation 

 of the topographical features of the earth is clearly shown. 



