Aponitolau said to Kanag, "Come down, Kanag. Do
not stay always in the tops of trees. Come and see the pretty girls
and see if you want to marry one of them. Come and get the golden cup
and put _basi_ in it, and make them drink." The little bird said,
"I prefer to stay in the trees and make the signs when anyone goes
to fight." When Aponitolau could not make him become a boy and come
down he felt very sorry.
When the party was over all the people whom they invited went home and
Kanag said to his father, "Now that your party is over and the people
have gone, I will go down and get the fruit of the trees to eat." [271]
Aponibolinayen said to him, "My dear little son, do not go down and eat
the fruit of the trees; we have all we need here. Forgive your father
and me, we will not send you again to the field." Kanag did not pay
attention and he started to go down. So Aponibolinayen and Aponitolau
commanded the spirit helpers. "Go and follow Kanag wherever he goes,
so that he has companions; do not leave him. Find a pretty girl for
him so that he will not go down." Not long after they overtook Kanag in
the forest and they all sat down and they said to him, "Wait here for
us a minute, Kanag, while we find a toy for you." "No, I do not wish
a toy; I am going down and eat the fruit of the trees." "No, please
wait for us. It is very near; we will be back soon. If you do not care
for any, you will see. Wherever you go we shall accompany you." Kanag
answered to them, "Yes," and they went. As soon as they arrived at
the well they used their power so that all the pretty girls who never
go outdoors felt very hot, so that they all came to the well to bathe.
Not long after the pretty girls went to the well in the early morning,
and their parents did not know about it. As soon as the pretty girl
arrived at the well the helpers saw the girl who appeared like
the flame of fire about the betel-nut blossoms. As soon as they
saw her washing her hair, they went back in a hurry where Kanag was
waiting. "Kanag, come and hurry and see the pretty girl." Kanag said,
"I do not wish to see her. I am going down to eat the fruit of the
trees," and they said again, "Please come; it is very near. If you do
not like her we will go wherever you wish." So Kanag went with them,
and when they arrived he flew to the top of the betel-nut tree, and
he saw the pretty girl, and he flew to another betel-nut tree above
her. "What can I do, if I become a man now?
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