the separation of
their parents the children died, and the moon gathering up their bodies
cut them into small pieces and threw them into space. Those fragments
which fell into water became fish, those which fell on land were
converted into snakes and animals, while "those which fell upward"
remained in the sky as stars.

A somewhat different version of this tale agrees that the quarrel and
subsequent chase occurred, but denies that the children died and were
cut up. It states that it is true that the offspring were animals, but
they were so from the time of their birth. One of these children is a
giant crab named _tambanokaua_ who lives in the sea. When he moves about
he causes the tides and high waves; when he opens his eyes lightning
appears. For some unknown reason this animal frequently seeks to devour
his mother, the moon, and when he nearly succeeds an eclipse occurs. At
such a time the people shout, beat on gongs, and in other ways try to
frighten the monster so that he can not accomplish his purpose.[106] The
phases of the moon are caused by her putting on or taking off her
garments. When the moon is full she is thought to be entirely naked.

[106] The writer found almost identical beliefs and practices among the
Batak and Tagbanua of Palawan.

According to this tale the stars had quite a different origin than that
just related, "In the beginning of things there was only one great star,
who was like a man in appearance. He sought to usurp the place of of the
sun and the result was a conflict in which the latter was victorious. He
cut his rival into small bits and scattered him over the whole sky as a
woman sows rice."

The earth was once entirely flat but was pressed up into mountains by a
mythical woman, Agusanan. It has always rested on the back of a great
eel whose movements cause earthquakes. Sometimes crabs or other small
animals annoy him until, in his rage, he attempts to reach them, then
the earth is shaken so violently that whole mountains are thrown into
the sea.

A great lake exists in the sky and it is the spray from its waves which
fall to the earth as rain. When angered the spirits sometimes break the
banks of this lake and allow torrents of water to fall on the earth
below.

According to Mr. Maxey, the Mandaya of Cateel believe that many
generations ago a great flood occurred which caused the death of all the
inhabitants of the world except one pregnant woman. She prayed that her
child mig