THE STORY OF THE CREATION
Bilaan (Mindanao)
                                              (1)
                                                In the very beginning, there lived a being so large that he cannot be compared with
                                              any known thing. His name was Melu, and when he sat on the clouds, which were his
                                              home, he occupied all the space above. His teeth were pure gold, and because he was
                                              very clean and continually rubbed himself with his hands, his skin became pure white.
                                              The dead skin which he rubbed off his body was placed on one side in a pile, and by
                                              and by this pile became so large that he was annoyed and set himself to consider what
                                              he could do with it.
                                              (2
                                               ) Finally Melu decided to make the earth; so he worked very hard in putting the dead
                                              skin into shape, and when it was finished he was so pleased with it that he determined
                                              to make two beings like himself, though smaller, to live on it.
                                              (3)
                                                Taking the remnants of the material left after making the earth he fashioned two
                                              men but just as they were all finished except their noses, Tau Tana from below the
                                              earth appeared and wanted to help him.
                                              (4)
                                                 Melu did not wish any assistance, and a great argument ensued. Tau Tana finally
                                              won his point and made the noses which he placed on the people upside down. When
                                              all was finished, Melu and Tau Tana whipped the forms until they moved. Then Melu
                                              went to his home above the clouds, and Tau Tana returned to his place below the
                                              earth.
                                              (5)
                                                 All went well until one day a great rain came, and the people on the earth nearly
                                              drowned from the water which ran off their heads into their noses. Melu, from his
                                              place on the clouds, saw their danger, and he came quickly to earth and saved their
                                              lives by turning their noses the other side up.
                                              (6)
                                                The people were very grateful to him, and promised to do anything he should ask of
                                              them. Before he left for the sky, they told him that they were very unhappy living on
                                              the great earth all alone, so he told them to save all the hair from their heads and the
                                              dry skin from their bodies and the next time he came he would make them some
                                              companions. And in this way there came to be a great many people on the earth.
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