24 TWO SEA-DYAK LEGENDS. 



the house that evening-, but spent the night in one of the boats 

 at the landing place. Among the boats were those belonging 

 to the Sons-in-law of Sinqalang Burong which had passed Sin 

 and his son as they waited on the sea -shore for some boat to 

 take them across the sea. 



When Seragunting and his father woke up next morning, 

 they saw that the road leading up to the house had sharpened 

 pieces of bamboo planted close together in the path, to prevent 

 their walking up it. As they were wondering what they were 

 to do next, a fly came to Seragmiting and said : — 



" Do not be afraid to walk up. Tread on the spikes that I 

 alight on ; they will, not hurt you. When you come to the 

 house you will find swords with blades turned upwards fastened 

 to the ladder. Tread on the blades that I alight on and walk 

 boldly up into the house." 



They did as the fly advised them, and were not hurt. The 

 bamboo spikes crumbled under their feet, and sword blades they 

 trcd on were blunt and harmless. 



The people of the house took no notice of them, and they 

 sat down in the verandah of the house. Then the fly came to 

 Seraguiitivg and whispered to him : — " You must now follow 

 ne into the room. Your mother is there, lying in her curtain. 

 I will point out to you which it is, and you must wake her up 

 and tell her who you are. She will be very pleased to see you. 

 Then when you come out into the verandah and see the sons-in- 

 law of Singalang Burong, you must greet them as your uncles. 

 They will disown you and pretend that you are no relation of 

 theirs. But do not be afraid. You will be victorious in the 

 end." 



Seragmiting followed the fly into the room and went to the 

 curtain on which it alighted. He called out to his mother, and 

 she awoke and saw with joy her son. She embraced him, and 

 he said to her : — 



" How is it you went away and left us? We missed you 

 so much, and were so sorry to lose you, that my father and I 

 have been travelling for many days and nights in search of you. 

 >» T ow our troubles are over for I have found you." 



" My dear son," she said as she carressed him, "though I left 

 you I did not forget you. It was I who placed the food by you 



Jour. Straits Branch 



