A brief survey of Iloko literature from the beginnings to its present development, with a bibliography of works pertaining to the Iloko people and their language, by Leopoldo Y. Yabes.

16

ILOKO LITERATURE

perception that there are such things as analogies in nature. '3
They are both informative and entertaining: informative because they inform and edify, and entertaining because they are
usually couched in striking language or because their meanings
denote or connote something humorous or witty. Many riddles
are natural crystals of wisdom. Most probably they afford the
only intellectual exercise of the common folk from whom they
originate and among whom they are perpetuated. Like proverbs
most riddles are a common legacy and, for this reason, it is
a hard task to single out those that peculiarly belong to a
certain nation or people. The specimens given here were
selected for their entertaining and informative qualities:33
"No baro narn'kop, no daan nalagda"-When new it is weak, when
ol. it is strong. (Carabao manure)
"Langit ngato, lanigit baba, danum agtengtengnga"-Sky above, sky
below, water in betwecn. (Coconut fruit)
"Aniat' banag a no ikkatan. dakdakkel inna vagbalinan"-What is it
tha't becomes larger when you take away a part of it. (Hole)
"Amenok a kagzrguranak, ngem no mapataynak angotennak"-I know
you hate me, but when you have killed me you still smell me. (Bed bug)
"Sino ti parsua ii Dios a nakinruar ti tulangna"-What is the creature
of God whose bones are outside. (Snail)
"No agtCZgaw natayag unay, no agta.kder abababan.'-When sitting it
is tall, when it stands it becomes shorter. (Dog or cat)
"Siasino ti namindua a nayanak"-What was it that was born twice.
(Chick)
"Adda asok a burburan. nagtugau iti kasiitan"-I have a hairy doe,
which sat among thorns. (Young bamboo shoot)
"Iniggawak ti siketmo, lagtoka a lagto"-I held your waist and you
jumped and jumped. (Pestle)
Sangkagalip a rabong masilawanna amin a lubong-A slice of bamboo
shoot illumines the whole world. (Moon).
Agtugtugaw maditsdusa-It is being punished while sitting. (Pot on
burning stove).
32-The Encyclopedia Britannica. Ed. 11. Cambridge, The University
Press, 1911, v. 23, p. 31(.
33-Some of these riddles were furnished the writer by Leon C. Pichay.