The Sun and the Moon

_Tinguian_

Once the Sun and the Moon quarreled with each other, and the Sun said:

"You are only the Moon and are not much good. If I did not give you

light, you would be no good at all."

But the Moon answered:

"You are only the Sun, and you are very hot. The women like me better,

for when I shine at night, they go out doors and spin."

These words of the Moon made the Sun so angry that he threw sand in

her face, and you can still see the dark spots on the face of the Moon.

How the Tinguian Learned to Plant

_Tinguian_

In the very old times the Tinguian did not know how to plant and

harvest as they now do. For food they had only the things that grew

in the forests and fish from the streams. Neither did they know how

to cure people who became ill or were injured by evil spirits, and

many died who might otherwise have lived. [75]

Then Kadaklan, the Great Spirit who lives in the sky, saw that the

people often were hungry and sick, and he sent one of his servants,

Kaboniyan, to the earth to teach them many things. And it happened

this way:

Dayapan, a woman who lived in Caalang, had been sick for seven

years. One day when she went to the spring to bathe, there entered her

body a spirit who had rice and sugar-cane with him, and he said to her:

"Dayapan, take these to your home and plant them in the ground, and

after a while they will grow large enough to reap. Then when they are

ripe, build a granary to put the rice in until you shall need it,

and a sugar-press to crush the cane. And when these are finished,

make the ceremony Sayung, and you will be well."

Dayapan was filled with wonder at these strange things, but she took

the rice and the sugar-cane and went home as she was commanded. While

she was trying to plant them in the ground the Spirit again entered

her body and showed her just what to do. Since then the Tinguian

have planted crops every year, and because they do as Kaboniyan [76]

taught the woman they have plenty to eat.

When Dayapan had reaped the first rice and cane, she began to make

the ceremony Sayung, and the Spirit came again and directed her. And

when it was finished and she was cured, he told her to take a dog

and a cock and go to bathe in the river as a sign that the ceremony

was finished. So she went to the river and tied the dog and the cock

near the water, but while she was bathing the dog ate the cock.

Dayapan wept bitterly at this and waited a long time for Kaboniyan,

and when at last he came, he said:

"If the dog had not killed the cock, no person would die when you

make this ceremony; but this is a sign, and now some will die and

some will get well."

Dayapan called all the people together, and told them the things that

the spirit had taught her; and they could see that she had been made

well. After that, when people became ill they called Dayapan to treat

them. And it was as the Spirit had said; some died and others were

made well.