266 A NATUBALI8T IN CELEBES ch. x 



for she suddenly disappeared, leaving behind her a little 

 son. Walasindouw was inconsolable over his loss. He 

 wept day and night, and prayed incessantly that he might 

 be taken up to heaven. 



' One day he saw a fly with yellow eyes, and he besought 

 it to take him and his child to heaven. The fly, in 

 answer to his request, told him that it would be willing to 

 help if he could find no one else to do so. Finding no 

 one, after long searching, he persuaded the fly to carry a 

 rattan for him towards the heavens. The rattan was 

 not long enough, however, and the fly and rattan were 

 driven about by the wind. The fly, however, returned 

 to him, saying, " This attempt has failed ; nevertheless 

 I believe I can bring you and your child to heaven yet. 

 When we get there be on your guard, for you will see 

 all the nine sisters, who are so much alike that it is im- 

 possible to tell one from the other. Take care, therefore, 

 that you hold fast to the one upon whom I shall settle, 

 for she is the mother of your child." Walasindouw and 

 his son were then carried heavenwards by the fly, and 

 when they came to the house containing the nine nymphs, 

 the father watched carefully to see upon which of them 

 it would settle. As soon as the fly had alighted on one 

 of them, Walasindouw handed over to her the child, and 

 she immediately gave him the breast. After he had been 

 suckled for a time, God came ' (this is perhaps Muntuuntu) 

 ' and said to Walasindouw, " You have behaved badly, 

 for you have not followed my command (that you should 

 never allow your wife to clean your head). Go now and 

 cut down a seho tree, hollow it out, and make it into a 

 water-butt." 



' Walasindouw did this, but, having no implement to 

 hollow it out, he used a parang for the purpose, and, as 

 soon as the butt was ready, he filled it with water, threw 



