Note 40 — Origin of the Ifugaos36

In the meantime, Kabigát, reflecting on his solitude and want of company, and, seeing that the domestic chickens, even though related among themselves, produced other roosters and hens, resolved to know carnally his sister Búgan, during her sleep. Some time having expired, the sister noted that she had fruit in her womb. * * * Such was the sadness and melancholy that came upon her, that she did nothing else but to weep and bewail herself, and to seek by some means alleviation for her sorrow through a violent death. She pretended to her brother that she was going to look for ísda,40 but what she did was to follow the course of the river until she arrived at its mouth in Lágud (the Eastern World). Upon arriving at the shore of the sea, she remained there weeping and waiting for someone to take away her life in a violent way. Soon her brother Kabigát (who had followed her) appeared there, and Búgan, upon discerning him, cast herself into the depths; but, instead of going to the bottom, she stopped at the rice granary of N͠gílîn Man͠gón͠gol. The brother, who witnessed the tragedy, did not stop at trifles but at once cast himself after her into the depths of the ocean, stopping, by a strange coincidence, at the very same rice granary as his fugitive sister and spouse. She continued there, bemoaning her misfortune, when, behold! N͠gílîn, hearing her plaint, approached and inquired the cause of her affliction. She related to him her trouble, how she had conceived by her carnal brother when she was asleep. N͠gílîn soothed her as follows: “Do not be afflicted, daughter, by that. Are not the fowls of Kai-án͠g related among themselves, and yet they beget just like those that are not so?” The maiden became somewhat calm, but still, out of shame for what had happened, she refused to eat what N͠gílîn offered her. Then he said to her: “In order that thou mayst further assure thyself of what I tell thee, and in order that thou mayst quiet thyself, let us go and consult my elder brother Ambúmabbákal.” And so they did. Ambúmabbákal, having been informed of the circumstances, burst out laughing and said to them: “Peradventure have ye not done well and righteously, there not being in existence any others but yourselves to procreate? However, for greater assurance, let us all go together to set forth the case before Muntálog my father.” Muntálog, 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.