\id SITX062.TXT Central Subanen Text, Turtle and Rat Go Fishing, 14-AUG-00 

\h3 |bTHE TURTLE AND THE RAT,|r SITX062.TXT

\h3 A traditional narrative as recounted by Nani Promon Antubu

\ip When three animals go fishing in a sweet potato boat with oars of sugarcane, two of the three realize their equipment is edible, and soon a disaster occurs. But more than the humorous plot, it is nonsense words like <umbiumbi, umbuumbu> and <kusukusu, naamnaam> that make the tale a great favorite. The story ends with a common motif: monkeys clubbing each other to death after butterflies alight on their noses.

\h3
\r
\t Sug Buu muka" Tubung*
\f The Turtle and the Rat*

\p
\r 1
\t Naa, sug buu muka" tubung, migbaal sekayan, gubi, gembagel gupia gubi.
\f Now the turtle and the rat built a canoe out of a yam, a very large yam.
\r 2
\t Muka" binaal nilan pelula, tebu.
\f And they made oars, out of sugarcane.
\r 3
\t Bena" mitubusi sekayan nilan keni, mikpasad ilan dayun.
\f When this canoe of theirs was finished, they made an agreement.

\p
\r 4
\t <<Lema" siselem, mekita" ita dua" dini, pu" menagat ita.>>
\f <<Tomorrow morning, we two will meet here and go ocean fishing.>>

\p
\r 5
\t Laung nig buu kia, <<Wa"a, pu" miniben na gupia, nda"u penagat.>>
\f That turtle said, <<All right, because I haven't been ocean fishing for a very long time.>>

\p
\r 6
\t Bena" migendaw, kig buu keni, milapus na mpanaw, pu" melegya" gupia.
\f The next day, this turtle went out early, because he was very slow.
\r 7
\t Sumibangi gendaw, mipanaw demai tubung, minangay dia sekayan nilan.
\f When the sun came up, the rat also went out, heading there to their canoe.

\p
\r 8
\t Minatengi tubung dia, kig buu kia, nda" pa gusay dateng dia, saba" kelegya"en.
\f When the rat reached there, that turtle still hadn't arrived, because he was so slow.
\r 9
\t Naa nda" maiben, minateng dadema dia.
\f But after awhile, he got there too.

\p
\r 10
\t Tuminulak ilan dayun, pekpatianud ilan dia tubig.
\f Then they began rowing, floating down that river.
\r 11
\t Bena" sungu ilan mbuang, mibianan nilani gutung.
\f When they were about to come out into the ocean, they came upon a monkey.
\r 12
\t Laung ni gutung keni, <<Yamu, Buu muka" Tubung, tanda" amu pangay?>>
\f This monkey said, <<You, Turtle and Rat, where are you going?>>

\p
\r 13
\t Miktalu"i tubung muka" buu, <<Ki Utung, menagat ami.>>
\f The rat and turtle said, <<Monkey, we're going ocean fishing.>>

\p
\r 14
\t Laung ni gutung keni, <<Baa,* sa" mesu"at, megdunutu.>>
\f This monkey said, <<|iBaa,|r* if it's all right, I'll go along.>>

\p
\r 15
\t Laung nig buu keni, <<Mesu"at.
\f This turtle said, <<All right.
\r 16
\t Laak ndi"a mektalu"talu", pu" peminu"en* ita, melenedi sekayan ta.>>
\f But don't you talk, or we will have a disaster,* and our canoe will sink.>>

\p
\r 17
\t Laung ni gutung kiin, <<Wa"a.>>
\f That monkey said, <<All right.>>

\p
\r 18
\t Bena" ditu na ilan laud, laung ni gutung kia, <<Sekayan, umbiumbi.*
\f When they got out at sea, that monkey said, <<The boat is |iumbiumbi.|r*
\r 19
\t Pelula, umbuumbu.
\f The oars are |iumbuumbu.|r
\r 20
\t Mengunglayag ita seda", seda" nda" ig bekegen.>>*
\f We are sailing (to catch) a fish, a fish with no bones.>>*

\p
\r 21
\t Midengeg dayun ni tubung kia, tinalu"en dayun diag buu muka" gutung, <<Inaan, megutem nau.>>
\f That rat heard it, and then he said to that turtle and monkey, <<I'm hungry.>>

\p
\r 22
\t Sumimbagi gutung kia, <<Inaan pasi", megutem dau dema.>>
\f That monkey answered, <<I'm also hungry.>>

\p
\r 23
\t Ki tubung keni, iketen dayun su kitut nu sekayan nilan.
\f Then this rat began gnawing on the bottom of their canoe.
\r 24
\t Ki gutung keni, nda" na dayun pemelula, iketen na dema su palula nilan.
\f This monkey didn't row any longer; he began gnawing on their oars, too.

\p
\r 25
\t Sekayan nilan dayun keni, misigeban na tubig.
\f Then this canoe of theirs shipped water.
\r 26
\t Laung dayun ni tubung keni dia gutung, <<Piktalu" nami daan dini"a, ndi"a mektalu"talu", pu" ma"niin laii mbianan ta, dagid nda"a pekpetuud.>>
\f Then this rat said to that monkey, <<We indeed told you not to talk, or this is what would happen to us, but you didn't believe us.>>
\r 27
\t Milened dayuni sekayan nilan keni.
\f Then this canoe of theirs began to sink.

\p
\r 28
\t Naa, ki tubung, luminanguy, muka" buu.
\f Well, the rat began swimming, and so did the turtle.
\r 29
\t Naa keni laa" pelum gutung, peglanguy dadema.
\f Then this monkey also started swimming.
\r 30
\t Laak melegya" gupia lumanguy.
\f But he was a very slow swimmer.
\r 31
\t Minita" kulita peglanguy ia gutung, silabeten dayuni gutung kia, nda" na igin.
\f An octopus saw that monkey swimming, and then he grabbed hold of that monkey, so that he couldn't move.

\p
\r 32
\t Naa, peglemes na.
\f Well, then he was drowning.
\r 33
\t Minita" dayun belembang.
\f Then a butterfly saw him.
\r 34
\t Laung nig belembang, <<Sa" ndi" mau da pegukit, pegebangan ku ya"a.>>
\f The butterfly said, <<If you won't tell anyone, I will help you.>>

\p
\r 35
\t Laung ni gutung kia, <<Wa"a.
\f That monkey said, <<All right.
\r 36
\t Ta" mai pegukitan ku dun ya"a, ibangan mau?
\f Why would I tell anyone that you had helped me?
\r 37
\t Pidag pa tanan, tindanan ku ya"a.
\f Furthermore, I will pay you.
\r 38
\t Asa mauya"an mu da, tindanan ku ya"a.>>
\f If you like, I will pay you.>>

\p
\r 39
\t Laung nig belembang kia, <<Alandun mai tindan mu dinaan?>>
\f That butterfly said, <<What will you pay me?>>

\p
\r 40
\t Kali" sembagi gutung kia, <<Iini tindan ku dini"a, kusukusu, naamnaam.*
\f That monkey answered, <<What I will pay you is |ikusukusu, naamnaam.|r*
\r 41
\t Pu" kiin, pia su ginepu"ay mu, nda" pa kektagu" dun.>>*
\f Because even your ancestors didn't have that.>>*

\p
\r 42
\t Laung nig belembang kia, <<Wa"a, melengas melelata dinaan, pu" inaan, milelatu dini"a.>>
\f That butterfly said, <<All right, it will be good if you take pity on me, because I took pity on you.>>

\p
\r 43
\t Iwiten dayuni gutung kia dia geksid.
\f Then he took that monkey there to the edge.
\r 44
\t Laung ni gutung kia, <<Ki Belembang, ndi"a pa deli".
\f That monkey said, <<Butterfly, wait a moment.
\r 45
\t Melali pau, dekagu begay dini"a su tindan ku dini"a.>>
\f I'll rest a bit, before I give you your pay.>>

\p
\r 46
\t Laung nig belembang kia, <<Wa"a.>>
\f That butterfly said, <<All right.>>

\p
\r 47
\t Bena" mikelalii gutung kia, silabeten dayun ig belembang keni.
\f When that monkey had rested, then he grabbed hold of this butterfly.
\r 48
\t Dayunen* kusuay, inaanen dayun.*
\f And then* he crushed it between his hands, and then he ate it.*

\p
\r 49
\t Bena" mi"aanen, migbaan dayuni gutung keni.
\f When he had eaten it, then this monkey sneezed.
\r 50
\t Mineleput ig belembang di suung ni gutung kia.
\f (And) the butterfly came out of that monkey's nose.

\p
\r 51
\t Laung dayun nig belembang kia, <<Ki Utung, melaata gupia gebangan!
\f Then that butterfly said, <<Monkey, you aren't a good person to help!
\r 52
\t Su megabang dini"a, aanen mu!
\f You eat the one who helps you!
\r 53
\t Naa, nandaw, mekpasad ita.*
\f So now, we'll set a time.*
\r 54
\t Su kelaun sama utung mu, gela" mu pesebutay.
\f Make an appointment with all your fellow monkeys.
\r 55
\t Lema", mekita" ita dini pentad.>>
\f Tomorrow, we will meet here on the beach.>>

\p
\r 56
\t Laung ni gutung kia, <<Wa"a.>>
\f That monkey said, <<All right.>>

\p
\r 57
\t Laung dagid nig belembang keni, <<Inaan pasi", ma"antu dadema.
\f And this butterfly said, <<I'll do the same, too.
\r 58
\t Mekita" ita dini na laak, lema" siselem.>>
\f We'll meet right here, tomorrow morning.>>

\p
\r 59
\t Naa, tindu" nig belembang kia, <<Sa" mauna amu dateng, dinu" amu pengingkud.
\f Then, that butterfly pointed, saying, <<If you arrive first, sit down there.
\r 60
\t Pu" yami dema, dinig dibaluy.
\f And we'll be here on the other side.
\r 61
\t Ndi" ita meglamug, mekpinig ita.>>
\f We won't sit together; we'll be in separate groups.>>

\p
\r 62
\t Laung ni gutung kia, <<Wa"a.>>
\f That monkey said, <<All right.>>

\p
\r 63
\t Bena" migendaw, ini miuna dateng dia, kia nga gutung.
\f The next day, it was those monkeys who got there first.
\r 64
\t Nda" ilan maiben mateng, minateng dema ig belembang. 
\f Not long after they arrived, the butterflies also arrived.
\r 65
\t Melaun dadema gupia, kia belembang keni.*
\f And there were very many of these butterflies.*

\p
\r 66
\t Kia nga gutung keni, miktukid ilan bentul.
\f These monkeys all had clubs.
\r 67
\t Laung dayun nig belembang keni, <<Naa, ki Utung, pekpuunan ta na ki kegbunu" ta.
\f Then this butterfly said, <<Now, Monkey, let's begin our fight.
\r 68
\t Mikandam ma na saan amu, pu" nda"i sala tawan diniu, miktukid amu bentul.
\f You are probably ready, because there's not one of you without a club.
\r 69
\t Kiin sigudu amui dumaag.
\f So you will probably win.
\r 70
\t Yami, nda"idun.>>
\f We have none.>>

\p
\r 71
\t Laung nig belembang kia, <<Ki Utung, peguna amu.>>
\f That butterfly said, <<Monkey, you go first.>>

\p
\r 72
\t Mintul dayuni gutung kia.
\f Then those monkeys started clubbing.
\r 73
\t Minglayug dayun ig belembang, mingapun dia suung ni nga gutung kia.
\f Then the butterflies flew up in the air and alit on those monkeys' noses.
\r 74
\t Ilan na dayuni migunay megbebentulay, pu" kia ngag belembang, mingapun ma dia suung nilan.*
\f Well, then of course it was one another (the monkeys) were clubbing, because those butterflies had alit on their noses.*

\p
\r 75
\t Migela" dayun matay kia nga gutung.
\f And so all those monkeys died.
\r 76
\t Duuni sala buuk sapeng, bedes, nda" pegduma dia.
\f There was one female monkey, who was pregnant, who didn't go with them there.
\r 77
\t Minita"en ki ngag duma nen migela" matay, iin, gumibek dayun.
\f When she saw that all her companions had died, she ran away.

\p
\r 78
\t Migbebensag dayun ki ngag belembang pu" <<Yami dai mikedaag.>>
\f And the butterflies kept shouting, <<We won.>>

\p
\r 79
\t Naa, mitubus.
\f Now, it's ended.

\ie

\no |bCultural and Linguistic Notes on THE TURTLE AND THE RAT|r

\no Title: This tale was dictated to Felicia Brichoux by Nani Promon Antubu. The Subanen text was published in the book |iPaat Buuk Gukiten,|r <Four Stories> (Nasuli, Malaybalay: Summer Institute of Linguistics, 1975).

\no 14. |iBaa:|r an exclamation usually denoting strong disagreement or disapproval; here, evidently denoting surprise.

\no 16. |ipeminu"en:|r <to experience disaster in a body of water.> Respondent Entong Anulay said the monkey was cautioned not to talk because it is Subanen custom not to comment on one's physical surroundings, lest the spirit owners of the natural features take offense and cause trouble. Even complimentary thoughts about such features are better thought about than expressed in words, he said

\nc Entong Anulay said all ocean creatures are believed to have spirit owners capable of causing them to swallow mortals or even whole boats. A report is told of a newlywed couple eaten by an enormous fish as they rode in a boat to a gathering. In this case, spirit owners might hear the monkey if he spoke.

\nc Respondent Dolino Anulay added that to experience trouble on land, such as getting lost in the forest, is called |isibeden.|r In either case, the undesirable result may occur either from natural causes or by the activity of earth spirits. Earth spirits are also the subject of SITX087.TXT.

\no 18. |iumbiumbi: a rhythmic play on the word |iubi|r <yam>; |iumbuumbu|r in the next sentence is a play on |itebu"|r <sugarcane.> Invariably when this tale is told or read, the linguistic frolic evokes laughter in the audience.

\no 20. Respondents said this comment foreshadows the octopus that is to enter the story in Sentence 31.

\no 40. Two additional plays on words further delight audiences. |iKusukusu|r means <crush something between one's hands,> and |inaamnaam|r is a play on |imaan|r <to eat> (with metathesis).

\no 41. This sentence increases the mystery as to what the gift might be.

\no 48a. The conjunction |idayun|r <then> followed by an irrealis verb is typical of grammatical skewing at the peak of a Subanen discourse. Although the verb meaning <<crush>> is a part of the event line, normally marked by past punctiliar verbs, the irrealis aspect often marks a peak sentence.

\no 48b. These events refer back to the predictions, disguised in nonsense words, in Sentence 40.

\no 53. Respondents said the inference was probably that arbitration must be held for the monkey's offense.

\no 65. Two markings of the peak of the story are the demonstrative |ikeni|r <this> occurring with thematic participants, and what has been called the <<crowded stage,>> many participants being involved at the climax.

\no 74. The clubbing to death of the monkey is similar to a motif in SITX018.TXT, where a man clubs a mosquito on a monkey's forehead, and SITX061.TXT, where monkeys slash butterflies on each other's noses.