Before the Spanish occupation there were in the Philippines many petty kingdoms headed by native princes known as datus. Luzon, the scene of countless¹ ravages² and hard fightings of warlike tribes, was the home of Datu Nebucheba. His kingdom—at first only a few square miles—was greatly extended by the labor³ of his young brave warrior⁴, Tomarind. Tomarind had a very beautiful wife, with whom Datu Nebucheba fell in love; but the ruler kept his vile⁵ desire secret in his heart for many years. Many times he thought of getting rid of his warrior Tomarind, and thus getting possession of his beautiful wife.

 

One day Tomarind was sent on a dangerous errand. He was ordered to get an enchanted⁶ marble ball from one of the caves in a certain mountain. Two monsters of terrible aspect, whose joy was the burning of villages, and whose delight was the killing⁷ of human beings, guarded the entrance of that cave. Many persons had entered the door of that death-chamber, but nobody had come from it alive. Suspicious of the coming danger, Tomarind did not go directly to the cave. He sought [364]the famous witch of Tipuca, and told her about his situation. Immediately the witch performed a sort of diabolical⁸ ceremony, gave Tomarind a magic cane⁹, and sent him away. When he reached the cave, those that guarded the cave received Tomarind very kindly¹⁰, and they delivered the enchanted marble ball to him.

 

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