viii, D, 2 Beyer: Myths Among Mountain Peoples 105 



« 



also take just vengeance on your descendants for this injury." In view 

 of this threat, Kabigat and Balitiik did not dare to make use of the 

 improvised fountain, and so they returned home. 



This myth, which is very long, then relates how certain of 

 the great deities befriended Ihik by setting him free and assist- 

 ing him in obtaining vengeance on his brothers and their 

 descendants. 



Another myth, showing an interesting resemblance to a Manobo 

 myth already given, tells how the sky region of Manahaut,^" 

 which was once very near the Earth World, was raised to its 

 present position. The cannibalistic and voracious appetite of 

 Manahaut was causing the slow extermination of the human 

 race,^- and the aid of the gods was invoked. The Ifugaos have 

 a number of powerful deities who always remain in a sitting 

 posture.. One of these suddenly rose up, and, with his head 

 and shoulders, thrust the sky region of Manahaut to a vast 

 height above the earth, thereby preventing the extermination 

 of the people.'- 



As a final example of Kiangan Ifugao mythology, I give the 

 following story which is one of the best specimens of Ifugao 

 literature. 



THE STORY OF BUGAN AND KINGGAUAN, OR THE MARRIAGE OF A GODDESS 



WITH A man" 



The wife of the god Hinumbian is Dakaue. She has no children 

 except a daughter called Biigan. This Biigan was with her parents in 

 Luktag. Let it be noted that these divinities of the highest region of 

 the Sky World do not see directly that which takes place in the lower 

 spheres, but the first calls the second, and the second the third, etc. 



'"Manahaut is the greatest and most hated evil deity of the Ifugaos. 



" The memory of cannibalism so common in Ifugao mythology possibly 

 dates back to a period of contact with human cannibals. 



■^The Ifugao version of the story states that the sky was so low that 

 it interfered with the plying of the spear, while the Manobo story relates 

 that the rice pestle would strike against it. It is possible that this myth 

 dates back to cave-dwelling ancestors — ^for the low roof of a cave would 

 be an inconvenience of the same character as that which is here ascribed 

 to the sky. 



A further proof of this is the following Tagalog myth furnished me by 

 Mr. Roberto Laperal: "In former times the sky was very low and could be 

 touched with the hand; when men were playing, they would strike their 

 heads against it whenever they jumped upward. This made them impa- 

 tient, and one day they began to throw stones at the sky. The great god 

 Bathala was very angry and removed the sky to its present position." 



"For bibliographical reference, see footnote 36. A less complete version 

 of this myth, differing somewhat in detail, is given by Barton in the 

 second manuscript mentioned in footnote 29. 



