In the beginning of all things Lu-ma’-wig had a part.  The Igorot does not know how or why it is so, but he says that Lu-ma’-wig gave the earth with all its characteristics, the water in its various manifestations, the people, all animals, and all vegetation.  To-day he is the force in all these things, as he always has been.

Once, in the early days, the lower lands about Bontoc were covered with water.  Lu-ma’-wig saw two young people on top of Mount Po’-kis, north of Bontoc.  They were Fa-tang’-a and his sister Fu’-kan.  They were without fire, as all the fires of Bontoc were put out by the water.  Lu-ma’-wig told them to wait while he went quickly to Mount Ka-lo-wi’-tan, south of Bontoc, for fire.  When he returned Fu’-kan was heavy with child.  Lu-ma’-wig left them, going above as a bird flies.  Soon the child was born, the water subsided in Bontoc pueblo, and Fa-tang’-a with his sister and her babe returned to the pueblo.  Children came to the household rapidly and in great numbers.  Generation followed generation, and the people increased wonderfully.

After a time Lu-ma’-wig decided to come to help and teach the Igorot.  He first stopped on Ka-lo-wi’-tan Mountain, and from there looked over the young women of Sabangan, searching for a desirable wife, but he was not pleased with the girls of Sabangan because they had short hair.  He next visited Alap, but the young women of that pueblo were sickly; so he came on to Tulubin.  There the marriageable girls were afflicted with goiter.  He next stopped at Bontoc, where he saw two young women, sisters, in a garden.  Lu-ma’-wig came to them and sat down.  Presently he asked why they did not go to the house.  They answered that they must work; they were gathering beans.  Lu-ma’-wig was pleased with this, so he picked one bean of each variety, tossed them into the baskets —­ when presently the baskets were filled to the rim.  He married Fu’-kan, the younger of the two industrious sisters, and namesake of the mother of the people of Bontoc.

After marriage he lived at Chao’-wi, in the present ato of Sigichan, near the center of Bontoc pueblo.  The large, flat stones which were once part of Lu-ma’-wig’s dwelling are still lying in position, and are shown in Pl.  CLIII.

Lu-ma’-wig at times exhibited his marvelous powers.  They say he could take a small chicken, feed it a few grains of rice, and in an hour it would be full grown.  He could fill a basket with rice in a very few moments, simply by putting in a handful of kernels.  He could cut a stick of wood in the mountains, and with one hand toss it to his dwelling in the pueblo.  Once when out in I-shil’ Mountains northeast of Bontoc, Fa-tang’-a, the brother-in-law of Lu-ma’-wig, said to him, “Oh, you of no value!  Here we are without water to drink.  Why do you not give us water?” Lu-ma’-wig said nothing, but he turned and thrust his spear in the side of the mountain.  As he withdrew the weapon a small stream of water issued from the opening.