Mythology of Mindanao

_Moro_

A long, long time ago Mindanao was covered with water, and the sea

extended over all the lowlands so that nothing could be seen but

mountains. Then there were many people living in the country, and all

the highlands were dotted with villages and settlements. For many years

the people prospered, living in peace and contentment. Suddenly there

appeared in the land four horrible monsters which, in a short time,

had devoured every human being they could find.

Kurita, a terrible creature with many limbs, lived partly on land and

partly in the sea, but its favorite haunt was the mountain where the

rattan grew; and here it brought utter destruction on every living

thing. The second monster, Tarabusaw, an ugly creature in the form

of a man, lived on Mt. Matutun, and far and wide from that place he

devoured the people, laying waste the land. The third, an enormous

bird called Pah, [142] was so large that when on the wing it covered

the sun and brought darkness to the earth. Its egg was as large as a

house. Mt. Bita was its haunt, and there the only people who escaped

its voracity were those who hid in caves in the mountains. The fourth

monster was a dreadful bird also, having seven heads and the power

to see in all directions at the same time. Mt. Gurayn was its home

and like the others it wrought havoc in its region.

So great was the death and destruction caused by these terrible animals

that at length the news spread even to the most distant lands, and

all nations were grieved to hear of the sad fate of Mindanao.

Now far across the sea in the land of the golden sunset was a city

so great that to look at its many people would injure the eyes of

man. When tidings of these great disasters reached this distant city,

the heart of the king Indarapatra [143] was filled with compassion,

and he called his brother, Sulayman, [144] begging him to save the

land of Mindanao from the monsters.

Sulayman listened to the story, and as he heard he was moved with pity.

"I will go," said he, zeal and enthusiasm adding to his strength,

"and the land shall be avenged."

King Indarapatra, proud of his brother's courage, gave him a ring and

a sword as he wished him success and safety. Then he placed a young

sapling by his window [145] and said to Sulayman:

"By this tree I shall know your fate from the time you depart from

here, for if you live, it will live; but if you die, it will die also."

So Sulayman departed for Mindanao, and he neither walked nor used a

boat, but he went through the air and landed on the mountain where

the rattan grew. There he stood on the summit and gazed about on all

sides. He looked on the land and the villages, but he could see no

living thing. And he was very sorrowful and cried out:

"Alas, how pitiful and dreadful is this devastation!"

No sooner had Sulayman uttered these words than the whole mountain

began to move, and then shook. Suddenly out of the ground came the

horrible creature, Kurita. It sprang at the man and sank its claws

into his flesh. But Sulayman, knowing at once that this was the

scourge of the land, drew his sword and cut the Kurita to pieces.

Encouraged by his first success, Sulayman went on to Mt. Matutun

where conditions were even worse. As he stood on the heights viewing

the great devastation  there was a noise in the forest and a movement

in the trees. With a loud yell, forth leaped Tarabusaw. For a moment

they looked at each other, neither showing any fear. Then Tarabusaw

threatened to devour the man, and Sulayman declared that he would kill

the monster. At that the animal broke large branches off the trees

and began striking at Sulayman who, in turn, fought back. For a long

time the battle continued until at last the monster fell exhausted

to the ground and then Sulayman killed him with his sword.

The next place visited by Sulayman was Mt. Bita. Here havoc was present

everywhere, and though he passed by many homes, not a single soul

was left. As he walked along, growing sadder at each moment, a sudden

darkness which startled him fell over the land. As he looked toward

the sky he beheld a great bird descending upon him. Immediately he

struck at it, cutting off its wing with his sword, and the bird fell

dead at his feet; but the wing fell on Sulayman, and he was crushed.

Now at this very time King Indarapatra was sitting at his window,

and looking out he saw the little tree wither and dry up.

"Alas!" he cried, "my brother is dead"; and he wept bitterly.

Then although he was very sad, he was filled with a desire for revenge,

and putting on his sword and belt he started for Mindanao in search

of his brother.

He, too, traveled through the air with great speed until he came to

the mountain where the rattan grew. There he looked about, awed at

the great destruction, and when he saw the bones of Kurita he knew

that his brother had been there and gone. He went on till he came to

Matutun, and when he saw the bones of Tarabusaw he knew that this,

too, was the work of Sulayman.

Still searching for his brother, he arrived at Mt. Bita where the

dead bird lay on the ground, and as he lifted the severed wing he

beheld the bones of Sulayman with his sword by his side. His grief

now so overwhelmed Indarapatra that he wept for some time. Upon

looking up he beheld a small jar of water by his side. This he knew

had been sent from heaven, and he poured the water over the bones,

and Sulayman came to life again. They greeted each other and talked

long together. Sulayman declared that he had not been dead but asleep,

and their hearts were full of joy.

After some time Sulayman returned to his distant home, but Indarapatra

continued his journey to Mt. Gurayn where he killed the dreadful bird

with the seven heads. After these monsters had all been destroyed

and peace and safety had been restored to the land, Indarapatra began

searching everywhere to see if some of the people might not be hidden

in the earth still alive.

One day during his search he caught sight of a beautiful woman at a

distance. When he hastened toward her she disappeared through a hole

in the ground where she was standing. Disappointed and tired, he sat

down on a rock to rest, when, looking about, he saw near him a pot

of uncooked rice with a big fire on the ground in front of it. This

revived him and he proceeded to cook the rice. As he did so, however,

he heard someone laugh near by, and turning he beheld an old woman

watching him. As he greeted her, she drew near and talked with him

while he ate the rice.

Of all the people in the land, the old woman told him, only a very

few were still alive, and they hid in a cave in the ground from whence

they never ventured. As for herself and her old husband, she went on,

they had hidden in a hollow tree, and this they had never dared leave

until after Sulayman killed the voracious bird, Pah.

At Indarapatra's earnest request, the old woman led him to the cave

where he found the headman with his family and some of his people. They

all gathered about the stranger, asking many questions, for this

was the first they had heard about the death of the monsters. When

they found what Indarapatra had done for them, they were filled

with gratitude, and to show their appreciation the headman gave his

daughter to him in marriage, and she proved to be the beautiful girl

whom Indarapatra had seen at the mouth of the cave.

Then the people all came out of their hiding-place and returned to

their homes where they lived in peace and happiness. And the sea

withdrew from the land and gave the lowlands to the people.