Literary Piece: In Manumanuk Tukling Iban Sin Manukmanuk Uwak (The Tukling Bird and the Crow)

 In Manukmanuk Tukling Iban Sin Manukmanuk Uwak

In waktu yadtu, di pa kaingatan bang unu manukmanuk mabiskay in nakaabot pa langit. Hambuuk adlaw, natipun na in kamanukmanukan.

Laung sin Agap, “ Hisiyu di katu’ manukmanuk mabiskay lumupad?”

In sambag hi Uwak, “Aku.Uway kamu makaatu kaku”.

Laung sin manukmanuk Tukling, “Magsulay na kita. Atuhan ta kaw maglumba’ pa taas langit. In kabayaan ku ha adlaw kunsum ha pagsilak sin suga maglumba nakita”.

Laung sin manukmanuk Itit, “Ibanan ta kamu maglupad. Aku in saksi niyu”.

Laung sin manukmanuk Tukling, “Marayaw na. Di da kita niyu katan magsabu sin di pa similak in suga ha subangan”.

Ubus nag-ukat na sila. Uway pa similak in suga, nagtipun na in kamukmanukan sumaksi sin lumba’ hi Uwak iban hi Tukling. Pagsilak sin suga ampa hi Uwak iban hi Tukling naglumba pa taas langit. Ibanan sila hi Itit. In dum na, nagpatihulug hi Uwak pa taas bud ampa siya kimaun patay hayup. Ampa hi Tukling masi limulupad dum iban adlaw limulupad siya sadja’ sampay siya sa nakasantuk pa taas langit. Masi siya limulupad sampay piyalian in u niya. In way na kaluparan niya ,ampa siya limupad pa baba’. Pagga’ hi Itit in saksi nila, limupad siya pa taas bud iban kiyakitaan niya hi Uwak kimaun patay hayup. Hangkan patakbiun hi Uwak. Pag-abut ka’patan tag-upat adlaw, nakaratung na hi Tukling. Amuna na in kiyakitaan sin katan manukmanuk nagdudugu’ na in u niya ampa naungas. Mattan tuud in manukmanuk Tukling in nasantuk pa langit(as documented by Rita C. Tuban,1977). 

The Tukling Bird and the Crow

( Tuban, 1977)

At that time, nobody knew what bird was the fastest and could reach the sky.One day,all the birds assembled.

The Parrot said, “Who among us birds can fly the fastest?”

The Crow answered, “I,for none of you can beat me”.

“We will try.I will challenge you to fly high up to the sky.I want the game to start tomorrow morning when the sun shines”, said the Tukling bird.

“ I will accompany you in the race for I shall be your witness,” said the Itit bird.

“Good”, said the Tukling bird. He added, “We will meet here before the sun shines in the east”. Then they parted.

The sun had not yet shone but the birds had already flocked in one place to witness the race between the Crow and the Tukling bird. At sunrise, the Crow and the Tukling bird began their race to the sky. They were accompanied by Itit bird. But during the night,   the Crow flew down the mountain and ate the dead animals found on top of the mountain. However, the Tukling bird continued to fly day and night until he bumped his head against the sky. The impact of the bump wounded his head.When he found out that there was no more place for him to fly, the Tukling bird flew downward to the earth.The Itit bird flew to the mountain and saw the Crow eating the dead animals. This is why the Itit bird fights the Crow. After forty-four days of flying,the Tukling bird arrived on earth.All the birds saw the bleeding forehead of the Tukling bird which became bald headed.It was true indeed that the Tukling bird bumped the sky .