Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 6 1888.djvu/75

Rh When M′ĕrtang took his house away with him to Tânah Bángun, a dog, the first of the species, appeared where the house had been, and was prevented by M′ĕrtang's power from attacking mankind.

Then B′ĕlo had a dog at his house, and from this dog came the tiger, which devours mankind and animals.

When M′ĕrtang left the earth for Tânah Bángun, he flew away with his house in the air.

B′ĕlo went to Tânah Bángun by the sea on foot; he was so tall that the water only reached to his knees.

Originally the sky was very low, but B′ĕlo raised it with his hands, because he found it in the way of his pestle when he raised it to pound his padi.

M′ĕrtang took his youngest sister to wife, and from them are descended the Mĕntra.

B′ĕlo married the other sister, but they had no offspring.

In course of time the descendants of M′ĕrtang multiplied to such an extent that he went to Tûhan Dibâwah and represented the state of things, which Túhan Dibâwah remedied by turning half of mankind into trees.

In those days men did not die, but grew thin with the waning of the moon, and waxed fat as she neared the full.

When their numbers had again increased to an alarming extent, To’ ′Ĕntah, the son of M′ĕrtang, and the first Bâtin, brought the matter to his father's notice.

The latter wished things to remain as they were, but B′ĕlo said it was better they should die like the banana, which leaves young shoots behind it, and leave children behind them when they died: the matter was submitted to Tûhan Dibâwah, who decided in favour of B′ĕlo's view, so that since then men have died, leaving their children behind them.

In the earliest times there used to be three suns—husband, wife, and child—and there was no night, there being always one sun left in