The Datto Somacuel

Datto Somacuel was one of the seven chiefs who, coming from Borneo

many years before the Spaniards conquered these islands, settled the

Island of Panay. He lived in Sinaragan, a town near San Joaquin, in

the southern part of Iloilo Province. His wife's name was Capinangan.

Somacuel went every morning to the seashore to watch his slaves

fish with the sinchoro, or net. One day they caught many fishes,

and Somacuel commanded them:--

"Spread the fish to dry, and take care that the crows do not eat

them up."

A slave answered: "Sir, if your treasure inside the house is stolen by

the crows, how do you expect those out of doors to be kept safe?" This

was said with a certain intonation that made Somacuel conjecture that

there was a hidden meaning in it.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked.

"Sir, I have to inform you of something that I should have told you

long ago. Do not reprove me if I have been backward in telling you

of the injury done you by your wife. It was due to my desire to get

complete proofs of the truth of my statement."

"End at once your tedious narrative!" said the datto, "What did my

wife do?"

"Sir," answered the slave, "she deceives you shamefully. She loves

Gorong-Gorong, who is at this very moment in your house jesting at

your absence."

"Alas!" said Somacuel, "if this be true he shall pay well for his

boldness."

The chief hurried home, intending to surprise the offenders. He carried

a fish called ampahan in a bamboo tube full of water, going around by

a secret way, so as not to be seen. On reaching home he went up into

the attic to observe what was going on, and found that his informant

had told the truth.

Gorong-Gorong and Capinangan were engaged in an affectionate

dialogue. Involuntarily Somacuel spilled some of the water down, and,

fearing that he would be discovered, seized a spear that was hidden

in the attic and, dropping it down, dexterously ran Gorong-Gorong

through the body, killing him instantly.

"Oh, Diva!" exclaimed Capinangan, kneeling beside the inert corpse,

"How shall I be able to take it away without being discovered by

Somacuel?"

Somacuel, who had not been seen at all, stayed quietly above, watching

what Capinangan would do. Capinangan did not suspect that her husband

was there, as he usually did not come home before nightfall. She

tried to take the corpse out for burial, but could not carry the heavy

body of her unfortunate lover. She must conceal it in some way, and

it was dangerous for her to call for aid, lest she might be betrayed

to her husband. So she took a knife and cut the body into pieces so

that she could take them out and bury them under the house.

After this task was done she managed to wash the blood up. She

became tranquil for a moment, believing she would never be

discovered. Somacuel, however, had observed all, and he formed a

plan for punishing his wife as she deserved. When everything seemed

to be calm he crept down, doing his best not to be seen. At the door

he called his wife by name. Capinangan was afraid, but concealed her

fear with a smile. "Capinangan," said her husband, "cut this fish in

pieces and cook it for me."

Capinangan was astonished at this command, because she had never before

been treated in this way. They had many slaves to perform such tasks.

"You know I cannot," she said.

"Why not?" asked her husband.

"Because I have never learned how to cut a fish in pieces nor to cook

it," she replied.

"I am astonished that you don't know how to cut, after seeing that

cutting is your favorite occupation," said Somacuel.

Capinangan then did not doubt that her husband knew what she had done,

so she did as he had bidden.

When dinner was ready the husband and wife ate it, but without speaking

to each other. After the meal, Somacuel told his wife that he had

seen all and should punish her severely. Capinangan said nothing. A

guilty person has no argument with which to defend himself. Somacuel

ordered his servants to throw Capinangan into the sea. At that time

the chief's will was law. Neither pleadings nor tears softened his

hard heart, and Capinangan was carried down to the sea and thrown in.

Time passed by; Somacuel each day grew sadder and gloomier. He would

have been willing now to forgive his wife, but it was too late.

He said to his slaves: "Prepare a banca for me, that I may sail from

place to place to amuse myself."

So one pleasant morning a banca sailed from Sinaragan, going

southward. Somacuel did not intend to go to any definite place,

but drifted at the mercy of wind and current. He amused himself by

singing during the voyage.

One day the crew descried land at a distance. "Sir," they said,

"that land is Cagayan. Let us go there to get oysters and crane's

eggs." To this their master agreed, and upon anchoring off the coast

he prepared to visit the place.

Oh, what astonishment he felt, as he saw, peeping out of the window of

a house, a woman whose appearance resembled in great measure that of

Capinangan! He would have run to embrace her, had he not remembered

that Capinangan was dead. He was informed that the woman was named

Aloyan. He began to pay court to her, and in a few weeks she became

his wife.

Somacuel was happy, for his wife was very affectionate. Aloyan,

on her part, did not doubt that her husband loved her sincerely,

so she said to him:--

"My dear Somacuel, I will no longer deceive you. I am the very woman

whom you caused to be thrown into the sea. I am Capinangan. I clung

to a log in the water and was carried to this place, where I have

lived ever since."

"Oh," said Somacuel, "pardon me for the harshness with which I meant

to punish you."

"Let us forget what is passed," said Capinangan. "I deserved it,

after all."

So they returned to Sinaragan, where they lived together happily for

many years.