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102 The Philippine Journal of Science im 



set forth the case before Muntalog my father." Muntalog, having heard 

 their story, applauded the conduct of the solitary brother and sister. 

 He told them, accordingly, to calm themselves and to rest there for a 

 few days, — and so they did. 



. Ill f 



The bringing of fire to the Earth World. — On the third day, Kabigat 

 requested leave to return, but Muntalog answered: "Wait one day more, 

 until I in my turn go to my father Mumbonaiig." Muntalog found his 

 father and mother seated facing each other; and, upon his arrival, his 

 mother, Mumboniag, came forward and asked him: "What news do you 

 bring from those lower regions, and why do you come?" The father 

 also became aware of the presence of his son, through the questioning 

 of the mother, and inquired likewise as to the reason of his coming. 

 Muntalog answered: "I have come, father, to ask thee for fire for some 

 Ifugaos who remain in the house of Ambumabbakal." "My son," the 

 father replied, "those Ifugaos of yours could not arrive at (or, come to) 

 Mumbonang without danger of being burned to cinders." Then he con- 

 tinued: "It is well! Approach me!"" Muntalog accordingly approached 

 Mumbonang, who said to him: "Seize hold of one of those bristles that- 

 stand out from my hair," and so Muntalog did, noticing that the said 

 point faced the north, and he placed it in his hand. Then Mumbonaiig 

 said to him again: "Come nigh! Take this white part, or extremity, 

 of the eye that looks toward the northeast, toward the place called 

 Gonhadan." And he took it and placed it in his hand. And Mumbonang 

 said to him once more: "Come near again, and take the part black as 

 coal, the dirt of my ear which is as the foulness of my ear." And so 

 he did. Then Mumbonaiig said to Muntalog: "Take these things and 

 bring them to thy son Ambumabbakal and to ^Jgilin, in order that the 

 latter may give them to the Ifugaos." And he said again to Muntalog: 

 "Take this white of my eye (flint), this wax from my ear (tinder), and 

 this bristle or point like steel for striking fire, in order that thou mayst 

 have the wherewith to attain what thou seekest (that is, fire), and to give 

 gradually from hand to hand to the Ifugao; and tell him not to return 

 to live in Kai-aiig', but to live in Otbobon, and cut down the trees and 

 make a clearing there, and then to get together dry grass; and that 

 they make use of the steel for striking fire, holding it together in this 

 manner, and burying it in the grass. And on making the clearing . if 

 they see that snakes, owls, or other things of evil omen approach, it 

 is a sign that they are going to die or to have misfortunes. But if they 

 do not approach them, it is a sign that it will go well with them in 

 that place; that the soil will be productive, and that they will be happy." 



IV 



The journey to Ifugao land from the East. — Upon the return of 

 Muntalog, at the termination of the fourth day, he said to Biigan and 

 Kabigat: "Now ye can go but let iffgilin and Ambumabbakal accompany 



" Mumbonang has a head covered with bristles, just like a porcupine, 

 but radiating and sharp pointed like nails facing outward to penetrate 

 any object on the outside. He possibly represents some constellation. 



i 



