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Traditions of the Tinguian

2

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“I am anxious to eat the mango fruit which belongs to Algaba of Dagála,” said Aponībolinayen. When she said this she was almost dying and she repeated it. “Ala cousin Dalonágan, you go and take cousin Dina-ogan, and go and secure the mango fruit of Algaba of Dagála,” said Aponībalagen. “Why does Aponībolinayen want the mango fruit of Algaba of Dagála; does she not know that anyone who goes there cannot return?” asked Dalonágan. “Ala, you go and be careful and he will not hurt you,” said Aponībalagen. And Dalonágan went truly, and started, and Aponībalagen gave Dalonágan a belt and earrings, which he was to trade for the mango fruit; and Dalonágan went to get Dina-ogan, and he took an egg. Not long after they went and they held the egg all the time as they walked. When they were in the middle of the way the egg hatched. When they had almost arrived in Dagála the chicken had become a rooster which could crow.

Algaba was playing with his sweetheart in the other house, when his sweetheart arrived from the well. “Your big snakes, which make the fence, did not see the enemies who came inside of the town.” Then Algaba ran to his house and he was very angry when he saw the two men. He went to get his headaxe and spear and when he took them down the weapons shed tears which were of oil. “What is the matter with my weapons that they weep oil? Perhaps these men are my relatives,” said the angry man. He dropped them and when he took another set they shed bloody tears.

The two men went up into the kitchen of the house, and Algaba went there. “How do you do now?” he said, still angry. “What do you want here?” “What are you here for, you ask, and we came to buy the mango fruit for Aponībolinayen who is nearly dead.” “It is good that you came here,” said Algaba, but he was angry and the two men were frightened, and they did not eat much. As soon as they finished eating, “What do you want to pay?” said Algaba. They let him see the one earring of Aponībolinayen. “I don't like that; look at the yard of my house. All the stones are gold,” said Algaba. When he did not want the earring, they let him see the belt, and Algaba smiled. “How pretty it is! I think the lady who owns this is much prettier,” Page 44he said to them. “Ala, you go and get two of the fruit.” So they went truly, and Dalonágan went to climb and when he secured two mangoes he went down. “We go now.” “I will go with you for I wish to see Aponībolinayen,” said Algaba. He said to his mother alan “You, mother, do not feel anxious concerning me while I am gone, for I want to go and see the sick lady who so desires the mango fruit. Watch for enemies who come inside the town.” “Yes, do not stay long,” said his mother alan.

Not long after Aponībolinayen could sit up straight, and she wanted to leave Algaba, but he took her. When Aponībolinayen looked at her ring she saw it was not her own. “Why have I another ring?” she asked, and she caught the hand of Algaba for he wanted to take her. “Give me my ring. It is not good for you, for it looks like copper. Take your ring, for it is really gold,” said Aponībolinayen. “No, this is good, for I did not take it from your finger. The spirits wanted it to come to my finger. Our rings are both gold, but they are different colors,” he said. “Let us chew betel-nut for it is bad for us to talk when we do not know each other's names.” “It is not my custom to chew betel-nut,” said Aponībolinayen. “Then you learn,” said Algaba. Not long after he made her chew and he gave to her. “Now, lady, whom I visit you tell your name first,” he said. “No, because I am ashamed, as a woman to tell my name first.” Not long after he said, “My name is Algaba of Dagála. I have looked in all parts of the world for a wife, but I did not find anyone like you, and now I have found you, and I want you to be married to me.” “My name is Aponībolinayen of Kaodanan, sister of Aponībalagen who are son and daughter of Ebang and Pagbokásan,” said Aponībolinayen. Not long after they laid down their quids and they were rows of agate beads which have no holes. Algaba said, “It is good for us to be married.” So they were married and they went to Dagála. As soon as they arrived in Dagála, “Mother,” he said to his mother alan, “now we are going to take you to Kadalayapan, because I have found a wife.” “No,” said the alan, “we must first build balaua here.” “That is good if it is what you desire,” said Algaba.

When they arrived in Kadalayapan, Aponībalagen wanted to marry Aponīgawanī. He sent his mother to go and give the message. As soon as she arrived in Kadalayapan, “Good morning, nephew Aponītolau,” said Ebang. “Good morning, what are you here for?” said Aponītolau. “What are you coming for, you say. Aponībalagen sent me to talk to you, for he wishes to marry Aponīgawanī,” she said. “If you think it is good it will be all right,” said Aponītolau, so she took out the engagement gift and she put one earring inside of a little jar and it was filled with gold. Aponītolau lifted his eyebrows and half of the gold disappeared, so Ebang put another earring in the pot and it was full again. “Ala! when it becomes evening you come and bring Aponībalagen,” he said to Ebang. “Yes,” she said. So she went home. As soon as she arrived in their house in Kaodanan, Aponībalagen asked the result of her trip. “They agreed all right; we will go when it becomes evening,” said Ebang. When it became night they went to Kadalayapan and he lived with Aponīgawanī. When it became morning he took Aponīgawanī to Kaodanan and the father and mother of Aponīgawanī and the other people followed them. They went to get the marriage payment. It was the balaua filled nine times with jars. As soon as they gave all the payment, Aponītolau was the next to make his payment. It was also the balaua filled nine times. As soon as they made all the payment they went home.

(Told by Mano, a woman of Patok.)

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