Note 52 — 4

Not long after, while they were talking he saw Asībowan break the fish stick and put it in the pot and he watched to see what would become of the stick. He saw that it became a fish.52 She called often for Aponītolau to come and eat and he went and he said, “I want to wait until your husband comes, for it is not good for us to eat first, and it is not good for us to be eating when he arrives.” “Come, it will be all right. We will eat now, and he can eat when he comes” said Asībowan. So he went to eat with her, for he was very hungry. He saw that she took all the rice and fish out of the pots, and there were only dishes for them. “What is the matter with this woman that she does not leave any fish for her husband?” he said to himself. While they were eating Asībowan told him that she did not have a husband and Aponītolau smiled. When they finished eating, they cut betel-nut for Page 53them to chew. “Now be patient for we must chew betel-nut, for it is not good for us to talk until we know each other's names.” Asībowan said, “How can we chew betel-nut, for I do not chew for I am related to Kabonīyan?”53 “You must chew anyway for we cannot tell our names unless we chew,” said Aponītolau. When Aponītolau urged her a long time she took the betel-nut and they chewed. “Since you are the lady who lives here, it is best that you tell your name first,” said Aponītolau. “No it is not good for a woman to tell her name first, so you must tell your name,” said Asībowan. Not long after, “My name is Aponītolau of Kadalayapan who is the son of Langa-an and Pagatipánan, who goes to find a pretty girl who has power like me,” said Aponītolau. “My name is Asībowan of Gᴇgᴇnawan, who lives alone in the field, who has no neighbors for this is my fortune,” said Asībowan. So Aponītolau staid with her nine months and his father and mother were searching for him. They had many people searching for him and they killed many animals to feed the people until all their animals were gone. The bones which they threw away made a pile nine times as large as the balaua.