A wood-chopper went to the woods.  When he passed where the brook ran, “Go away, go away,” he said to Banbantay, the spirit of the brook.  He heard a voice in the thicket.  The voice said, “I should think he would see me.”  The man answered, “Yes, I see you.”  The spirit said, “Where am I now?” The man answered, “You are in the thicket.”  The spirit came down and said, “Put my poncho on you.”  When he has it on, no one can see him. [393] “See if I really can see you in my poncho.”  The man took the poncho and put it on, then the spirit could not see him any more, because the cloth made him invisible.  Then the man went home.  When he reached there, he said to his wife, “Wife, where am I now?” She cried because she thought him dead.  He said, “Do not cry, for I am not dead, but I have received a poncho which makes me invisible.”  The man took off his poncho and embraced his wife, which made his wife laugh at him, for she knew then that her husband was powerful.

91

A fisherman went to catch fish with his throw net.  While he was fishing, a big bird, Banog, saw him.  It seized the man, put him on its back and flew away.  It lighted on a very big tree in the forest.  In the thicket there was a nest with two small Banog in it.

After the bird had put the man near the nest, it flew away again, and the nestlings wished to eat the man, but he defended himself so they could not eat him.  He took one in each hand and jumped from the tree, and the young birds broke his fall so that he was not hurt.  The man was much frightened by the things which had happened to him, and he ran to his home.  When he arrived home, he told with tears what had happened to him.  His family were very happy over his return, and made him promise not to go alone again to fish.

Abstracts

I

1

Two women are gathering greens when a vine wraps around one and carries her to the sky.  She is placed near to spring, the sands of which are rare beads.  Small house near by proves to be home of the sun.  Woman hides until owner goes into sky to shine, then goes to house and prepares food.  Breaks up fish stick and cooks it.  It becomes fish.  Single grain of rice cooked in pot the size of a “rooster’s egg” becomes sufficient for her meal.  Goes to sleep in house.  Sun returns and sees house which appears to be burning.  Investigates and finds appearance of flames comes from beautiful woman.  Starts to prepare food, but awakens visitor.  She vanishes.  Each day sun finds food cooked for him.  Gets big star to take his place in sky; returns home unexpectedly and surprises woman.  They chew betel-nut together and tell their names.  The quids turn to agate beads, showing them to be related, and thus suitable for marriage.  Each night sun catches fish, but woman refuses it, and furnishes meat by cooking fish stick.