20 TWO SEA-DYAK LEGENDS. 



They asked him many questions : — where had he been living all 

 this time ; how he came to be married, and what was the name of 

 his wife's country. But Siu answered little, as he remembered the 

 promise he had made to his wife, that he would not speak of 

 what he had seen in her house. 



When they reached the door of his room, Siu hung up his 

 sword and his wife went into the room. But she did not see his 

 mother as she was ill and was lying in her curtain. Then Siu 

 followed his wife into the room and called out " Mother, where 

 are you ? Her is your son Siu come back !" 



But his mother made no answer, so he opened her curtain, 

 and saw her lying down, covered up with a blanket. She had 

 been so troubled at the thought that her son was dead, that she 

 had refused to eat and had become quite ill. 



She would not believe that her son had really returned 

 alive, and she said, " Do not try to deceive me ; my son Siu is 

 dead." 



"lam indeed your son Siu, and I have come back alive and 

 well !" 



" No ! " she replied, " my son 'Siu is dead. Leave me alone, 

 I have not long to live. Let me die in peace and follow my 

 son to the grave.'' 



Siu then went to the box in which his clothes were kept, 

 and put on the things that his mother had often seen him wear. 

 Then he went to her again and said, " Even if you do not be- 

 lieve that I am your son, at any rate you might turn round and 

 look at me, to make sure that I am not your son." 



Then she looked at him, and saw that it was indeed her 

 son. She was so pleased at his return that she soon recovered 

 from her illness, which was really caused by her sorrow and 

 refusal to eat. Siu told his mother of his marriage, and she wel- 

 comed his wife with joy. 



The women all crowded round Sius wife and asked her 

 what her name was. She answered Endu- Sudan- Galingam- 

 Tinchin-Mas. (The girl Sudan painted like a gold ring). They 

 looked at her in surprise ; they had never heard of such a name 

 before. 



"Where do you come from ?" they asked. "What is the 

 name of your country ?" 



Jour. Straits Branch . 



