4
Reading edition
“Sinogyaman, come and oil my hair so that I can go to war,” said Aponītolau. “And you, Sinagayan, put some rice in the pot and cook it, and also some fish for us to eat.” Not long after she cooked, and Sinogyaman oiled his hair. When Sinagayan finished cooking they ate and started to go to Gᴇgᴇnawan where Asībowan lived. Sinogyaman and Sinagayan did not want him to go, but Aponītolau went anyway.
When he arrived at the edge of the town he stood still a long time, for he did not know the way to Gᴇgᴇnawan. A bird went to him and said, “Why do you stand here for a long time, Aponītolau?” “Why do you stand a long time, you say, and I am going to the town of Asībowan, whom every one says is a pretty girl,” said Aponītolau to the bird. “Ala, Aponītolau, it is best for you to follow me and I will show you the way to the place where Asībowan lives.” Not long after they went and they soon arrived at the town of Gᴇgᴇnawan. “Ala, Aponītolau, I leave you now for I have showed you the way,” said the bird. So Aponītolau went alone to the house of Asībowan. When he reached the ladder of her house Asībowan was looking out of the window and she said, “Oh, there is a rich gentleman. How are you? Where are you going?” Aponītolau said, “I am going to Nagsingkawan, but I have lost my way and I thought that this was Nagsingkawan. I saw this house so I came to get a drink.” “This is not Nagsingkawan. Come up and I will cook and we will eat.” Aponītolau went up into the house and the girl gave him water to drink. She cooked and then she called him. “I do not want to eat yet. I will rest for awhile and eat when your husband comes,” said Aponītolau.
On the second night he went again to Lisnáyan and he used his power so that all the young girls, were hot again so that they went to the spring. When he looked up where there were many betel-nuts he saw Aponībolinayen taking a bath. “I did not see you when you left me Aponībolinayen,” said Aponītolau. “Now I am going to take you home.” “No, do not take me for my brother will hate me. I do not want to go to your house.” He took her to his town of Kadalayapan and he sent his mother to Natpangan to tell Aponībalagen that Aponībolinayen was in Kadalayapan. Not long after his mother Langa-an took her skirt and her hat which was like a bird and when she arrived at the gate of Kaodanan Sinogyaman was dipping water from the spring. “Niece Sinogyaman, where is the ford?” “Look there at the shallow place, for it is the ford.” She took off her belt and she spread it on the water, and she rode on it to the other side, and then she took a bath. When she finished bathing she stood on a high stone and the drops of water from her body were agate beads with no holes. “How strange, the people of Kadalayapan are. They are very different from us,” said the women who were dipping water from the spring. Not long after Langa-an put on her skirt, and when she finished she said, “Are you not finished dipping water, Sinogyaman? I want you to guide me to the house of my nephew Aponībalagen, for I have forgotten the way, for I have not been here for a long time.” “No, I am not through, but I will show you the way, Aunt,” said Sinogyaman, and she guided her.
Not long after all the people went back to their homes, and Aponībalagen was left alone and he acted as if he was drunk, but he was not drunk. He laid down in the balaua, and Aponībolinayen covered him with blankets. Not long after Aponīgawanī went outdoors for she felt hot, and Aponībalagen peeped at her. Not long after she went inside of the house and went into the ninth room, and Aponībalagen watched her. When it became night Aponībalagen went to the place where she was and Aponītolau did not see him. So he looked for her in the ninth room, and she was playing the pan pipe. While she was playing she saw a firefly, and she tried to hit it with her pan pipe, and Aponībalagen said “Do not strike me or you will hit my headaxe,” and he became a man again. “How did you get in here?” said Aponīgawanī. “I came, because I saw you when I was lying in the balaua.” He sat down beside her and tried to cut a betel-nut for her to chew. “We will chew betel-nut so we can tell our names,” said Aponībalagen. She took the betel-nut and they chewed. “You tell your name first, for you live here.” “No it is not good for me to tell my name first, for I am a woman. You are the first.” “My name is Aponībalagen who is the brother of Aponībolinayen who is the son of Pagbokásan of Kaodanan.” “My name is Aponīgawanī who is the sister of Aponītolau who is the daughter of Pagatipánan and Langa-an.”
(Told by Lagmani, a woman of Patok.)