Note 122 — 11

“Now, Aponīgawanī, bring me the switch of Aponībolinayen, for I Page 92go to take it to her.” He took the switch and used the power of the betel-nut, so that he went as quickly as a person can point to the place of many betel-nuts. In a short time, as the story goes, they arrived. “Good evening,” said Aponītolau, but Aponībolinayen thought him to be an enemy. “Does the old enemy bring greetings?” asked Aponītolau. Then they went up into the house and he leaned against the corner pole. Aponībolinayen looked at Aponītolau and his good looks seemed to climb the corner pole. “It is better for us to tell our names,” said Aponītolau, “for it is difficult to talk when we do not know each other's names.” After that he took out, from his little sack, nuts whose husks were of gold. He cut a nut and when he gave the half to Aponībolinayen their golden finger rings exchanged themselves. “Give back my ring,” she said. “Our relationship is the reason they change,” said Aponītolau. Then they chewed and laid the quids on the headaxe and they became agate beads which looked like honey, and laid in parallel lines. “We are relatives,” they said, and in a short time they told their names. When it became time to eat, Aponībolinayen said, “What do we eat?” He took the boiling stick and broke it into pieces, and it became a fish which they ate,122 and Aponītolau took the bone out of the fish which Aponībolinayen ate. When they finished eating she spread the mat and the blanket which they kept in the box. “I do not like a blanket which is kept in a box, for it smells like kimi,”123 said Aponītolau. “Why do you not like it? It is what we keep for company and is easy to use,” said Aponībolinayen. “The end of my clout is enough for my blanket,” said Aponītolau. Then Aponībolinayen used the power of the betel-nut and vanished. “Why is there no one here?” said Aponītolau. “I use your power betel-nut, so that I may become the insect which belongs to Kaodanan (i.e., the firefly).”