The Widow's Son

Subanun (Mindanao)

スバヌン(ミンダナオ)

In a little house at the edge of a village lived a widow with her only son, and they were very happy together. The son was kind to his mother, and they made their living by growing rice in clearings on the mountain side and by hunting wild pig in the forest.

村の端の小さな家に、やもめの女がたった一人の息子と住んでいて、二人はともにたいそう幸せだった。息子は母に優しく、そして二人は山腹の開いた畑で稲を育て、森で猪を狩って暮らしを立てていた。

One evening when their supply of meat was low, the boy said:

ある夕方、肉の蓄えが少なくなったとき、息子は言った。

"Mother, I am going to hunt pig in the morning, and I wish you would prepare rice for me before daylight."

「母さん、朝に猪を狩りに行きます。夜が明ける前に米を用意してくれるとよいのですが。」

So the widow rose early and cooked the rice, and at dawn the boy started out with his spear and dog.

そこでやもめの女は早く起きて米を炊き、そして夜明けに息子は槍と犬とともに出かけた。

Some distance from the village, he entered the thick forest. He walked on and on, ever on the lookout for game, but none appeared. At last when he had traveled far and the sun was hot, he sat down on a rock to rest and took out his brass box [138] to get a piece of betel-nut. He prepared the nut and leaf for chewing, and as he did so he wondered why it was that he had been so unsuccessful that day. But even as he pondered he heard his dog barking sharply, and cramming the betel-nut into his mouth he leaped up and ran toward the dog.

村から少し離れると、彼は厚い森に入った。彼はどこまでも歩き、絶えず獲物に気を配っていたけれども、何も現れなかった。とうとう遠くまで進んで日が暑くなったとき、休むために岩に腰を下ろし、そしてビンロウの実を取り出すために真鍮の箱 [138] を出した。噛む支度に実と葉を整え、そしてそうしながら、その日はなぜこれほどうまくいかないのだろうと不思議に思った。けれども思い巡らしているまさにそのとき、犬が鋭く吠えるのが聞こえ、そしてビンロウの実を口に詰め込むと、跳び上がって犬のほうへ走った。

As he drew near he could see that the game was a fine large pig, all black save its four legs which were white. He lifted his spear and took aim, but before he could throw the pig started to run, and instead of going toward a water course it ran straight up the mountain. The boy went on in hot pursuit, and when the pig paused he again took aim, but before he could throw it ran on.

近づくと、その獲物が見事な大きい猪で、白い四本の脚を除いてすべて黒いのが見えた。彼は槍を上げて狙いをつけたけれども、投げる前に猪は走り出し、そして水の流れのほうへ行かずに、まっすぐ山を登った。若者は激しく追い、そして猪が足を止めるとまた狙いをつけたけれども、投げる前に猪は走った。

Six times the pig stopped just long enough for the boy to take aim, and then started on before he could throw. The seventh time, however, it halted on the top of a large flat rock and the boy succeeded in killing it.

六度、猪は若者が狙いをつけるのにちょうど足りるだけ立ち止まり、そしてそれから、投げる前に走り出した。けれども七度めには、大きな平らな岩の上で足を止め、そして若者はそれを殺すことができた。

He tied its legs together with a piece of rattan and was about to start for home with the pig on his back, when to his surprise a door in the large stone swung open and a man stepped out.

彼は籐の一片でその脚を結び合わせ、猪を背に負って家へ向かおうとした。すると驚いたことに、その大きな石の戸が開いて、一人の男が出てきた。

"Why have you killed my master's pig?" asked the man.

「なぜわたしの主人の猪を殺したのだ」と男は尋ねた。

"I did not know that this pig belonged to anyone," replied the widow's son. "I was hunting, as I often do, and when my dog found the pig I helped him to catch it"

「この猪が誰かのものだとは知らなかった」とやもめの息子は答えた。「わたしはいつもするように狩りをしていて、犬がこの猪を見つけたので、捕らえるのを手伝ったのだ。」

"Come in and see my master," said the man, and the boy followed him into the stone where he found himself in a large room. The ceiling and floor were covered with peculiar cloth that had seven wide stripes of red alternating with a like number of yellow stripes. When the master of the place appeared his trousers were of seven colors, [139] as were also his jacket and the kerchief about his head.

「入ってわたしの主人に会え」と男は言った。そして若者は男に従って石の中へ入り、そして大きな部屋にいる自分に気づいた。天井と床は風変わりな布で覆われており、赤い広い縞が七つと、それと同じ数の黄色い縞が交互に並んでいた。この場所の主が現れると、その袴は七つの色であり、[139] その上衣と頭の手拭いもまたそうであった。

The master ordered betel-nut, and when it was brought they chewed together. Then he called for wine, and it was brought in a jar so large that it had to be set on the ground under the house, and even then the top came so high above the floor that they brought a seat for the widow's son, and it raised him just high enough to drink from the reed in the top of the jar. He drank seven cups of wine, and then they ate rice and fish and talked together.

主はビンロウの実を言いつけ、そして持ってこられると二人でともに噛んだ。それから酒を言いつけ、そしてそれはあまりに大きな甕で運ばれてきたので、家の下の地に据えなければならなかった。そしてそうしても、口が床よりずっと高くなったので、やもめの息子のために腰掛けを持ってきた。そしてそれは、甕の口の葦から飲むのにちょうど足りるだけ彼を高くした。彼は七杯の酒を飲み、そしてそれから二人は米と魚を食べて語り合った。

The master did not blame the boy for killing the pig, and declared that he wished to make a brother of him. So they became friends, and the boy remained seven days in the stone. At the end of that time, he said that he must return to his mother who would be worried about him. In the early morning he left the strange house and started for home.

主は若者が猪を殺したのを咎めず、そして彼を兄弟にしたいと言い渡した。そこで二人は友になり、そして若者は七日のあいだ石の中に留まった。その時が終わると、彼は、自分のことを心配しているだろう母のもとへ帰らなければならないと言った。朝早く、彼はこの奇妙な家を出て家へ向かった。

At first he walked briskly, but as the morning wore on he went more slowly, and finally when the sun was high he sat down on a rock to rest. Suddenly looking up, he saw before him seven men each armed with a spear, a shield, and a sword. They were dressed in different colors, and each man had eyes the same color as his clothes. The leader, who was dressed all in red with red eyes to match, spoke first, asking the boy where he was going. The boy replied that he was going home to his mother who would be looking for him, and added:

初めは足早に歩いたけれども、朝が進むにつれてゆっくりになり、そしてとうとう日が高くなったとき、休むために岩に腰を下ろした。不意に見上げると、目の前に七人の男がいて、それぞれ槍と盾と剣を持っていた。それぞれ違う色の装いをしており、そしてそれぞれの目はその着物と同じ色であった。すべて赤い装いで、それに合う赤い目をした頭が先に語り、若者にどこへ行くのかと尋ねた。若者は、自分を探しているだろう母のもとへ帰るところだと答え、そしてこう付け加えた。

"Now I ask where you are going, all armed ready for war."

「こんどはわたしが尋ねる。あなたがたはどこへ行くのだ。みな武器を持って戦う支度をして。」

"We are warriors," replied the man in red. "And we go up and down the world killing whatever we see that has life. Now that we have met you, we must kill you also."

「われらは戦士だ」と赤い装いの者が答えた。「そして世を上り下りして、命あるものを見れば何でも殺す。いまおまえに出会ったから、おまえも殺さなければならない。」

The boy, startled by this strange speech, was about to answer when he heard a voice near him say: "Fight, for they will try to kill you," and upon looking up he saw his spear, shield, and sword which he had left at home. Then he knew that the command came from a spirit, so he took his weapons and began to fight. For three days and nights they contended, and never before had the seven seen one man so brave. On the fourth day the leader was wounded and fell dead, and then, one by one, the other six fell.

この奇妙な言葉に驚いた若者が答えようとしたとき、すぐ近くで声がこう言うのが聞こえた。「戦え。彼らはおまえを殺そうとするからだ。」そして見上げると、家に置いてきた自分の槍と盾と剣があった。それから彼は、この命が霊から来たのだと知って、武器を取って戦い始めた。三日三夜のあいだ二人は争い、そして七人は一人の男がこれほど勇ましいのを前に見たことがなかった。四日めに頭が傷を負って倒れて死に、そしてそれから、一人ずつほかの六人も倒れた。

When they were all killed, the widow's son was so crazed with fighting that he thought no longer of returning home, but started out to find more to slay.

みなが殺されると、やもめの息子は戦いに気も狂わんばかりになって、もう家へ帰ることは考えず、もっと殺すものを見つけに出かけた。

In his wanderings he came to the home of a great giant whose house was already full of the men he had conquered in battle, and he called up from outside:

そのさすらいのうちに、彼は大きな巨人の家に着いた。その家はもう戦いで打ち負かした者たちでいっぱいだった。そして彼は外から呼び上げた。

"Is the master of the house at home? If he is, let him come out and fight."

「この家の主は家にいるか。いるなら、出てきて戦え。」

This threw the giant into a rage, and seizing his shield and his spear, the shaft of which was the trunk of a tree, he sprang to the door and leaped to the ground, not waiting to go down the notched pole which served for steps. He looked around for his antagonist, and seeing only the widow's son he roared:

これは巨人を激しく怒らせた。そして盾と、幹が木の幹そのものである槍を摑んで、戸口へ跳び、そして段のついた柱を下りるのも待たずに地へ跳び下りた。彼は相手を探してあたりを見回し、そしてやもめの息子だけを見て吠えた。

"Where is the man that wants to fight? That thing? It is only a fly!"

「戦いたいという男はどこだ。あれか。あれはただの蠅だ!」

The boy did not stop to answer, but rushed at the giant with his knife; and for three days and nights they struggled, till the giant fell, wounded at the waist.

若者は答えるために足を止めず、刃物を持って巨人に突進した。そして三日三夜のあいだ二人はもみ合い、そしてとうとう巨人は腰に傷を負って倒れた。

After that the widow's son stopped only long enough to burn the giant's house, and then rushed on looking for someone else to slay. Suddenly he again heard the voice which had bade him fight with the seven men, and this time it said: "Go home now, for your mother is grieved at your absence." In a rage he sprang forward with his sword, though he could see no enemy. Then the spirit which had spoken to him made him sleep for a short time. When he awoke the rage was spent.

そのあとやもめの息子は、巨人の家を焼くのにちょうど足りるだけ留まり、そしてそれから、殺すものをほかに探しに突き進んだ。不意に、七人の男と戦えと命じたあの声がまた聞こえ、そしてこのときはこう言った。「いま家へ帰れ。おまえの母がおまえの留守を嘆いている。」彼は激しく怒って剣を持って跳びかかったけれども、敵は見えなかった。それから、彼に語った霊が彼を少しのあいだ眠らせた。目を覚ますと怒りは尽きていた。

Again the spirit appeared, and it said: "The seven men whom you killed were sent to kill you by the spirit of the great stone, for he looked in your hand and saw that you were to marry the orphan girl whom he himself wished to wed. But you have conquered. Your enemies are dead. Go home now and prepare a great quantity of wine, for I shall bring your enemies to life again, and you will all live in peace."

また霊が現れて、こう言った。「おまえが殺した七人の男は、大きな石の霊がおまえを殺すために送ったのだ。その霊はおまえの手を見て、おまえが、自分自身が娶りたかったあの孤児の娘と夫婦になるはずだと見たからである。けれどもおまえは打ち勝った。おまえの敵は死んだ。いま家へ帰って、たくさんの酒を用意せよ。わたしはおまえの敵を生き返らせよう。そしておまえたちみなが和んで暮らすだろう。」

So the widow's son went home, and his mother, who had believed him dead, was filled with joy at his coming, and all the people in the town came out to welcome him. When he had told them his story, they hastened to get wine, and all day they bore jarsful to the widow's house.

そこでやもめの息子は家へ帰り、そして彼が死んだと思っていた母は、その帰りに喜びで満たされた。そして町のすべての人が迎えに出てきた。彼が話を告げると、人々は急いで酒を手に入れ、そして一日じゅう甕いっぱいの酒をやもめの家へ運んだ。

That night there was a great feast, and the spirit of the great stone, his seven warriors, the friendly spirit, and the giant all came. The widow's son married the orphan girl, while another beautiful woman became the wife of the spirit of the stone.

その夜、大きな宴が開かれた。そしてあの大きな石の霊と、その七人の戦士と、あの親しい霊と、あの巨人が、みな来た。やもめの息子はあの孤児の娘と夫婦になり、一方、もう一人の美しい女があの石の霊の妻になった。

MORO

モロ

Introduction

序

About the year 1400 something happened which changed the beliefs and customs of many of the tribes of the southern Philippines and made of them a powerful and dreaded people.

一四〇〇年ごろ、南フィリピンの数多くの民の信じることと習いを変え、彼らを力ある恐れられる民にした出来事が起こった。

It was about this time that Arabian traders and missionaries began to establish themselves in the Islands, and soon these were followed by hordes of Mohammedan converts from the islands to the south. Among the newcomers were men who became powerful rulers, and they, in time, brought together many of the settlements which formerly had been hostile to each other and united them under the faith of Islam. Those who accepted the new faith adopted the dress and many of the customs of their teachers and came to be known as Moro.

アラビアの商人と宣教師が島々に居を構え始めたのはこのころで、そしてほどなく、その後を南の島々からのイスラム教への改宗者の群れが追った。この新しく来た者のなかには力ある支配者となった者があり、彼らはやがて、もとは互いに敵であった数多くの集落をまとめ、イスラムの信の下に一つにした。この新しい信を受け入れた者は、その教え手の装いと数多くの習いを取り入れ、そしてモロとして知られるようになった。

With the possession of firearms, which were introduced by the newcomers, the Moro grew very daring and were greatly feared by the other natives. And soon they began to make long trips on the sea to the north and south, carrying on trade and making many surprise attacks for loot and slaves.

新しく来た者が持ち込んだ火器を手にして、モロはたいそう大胆になり、ほかの土地の人々にたいそう恐れられた。そしてほどなく、北と南の海へ長い旅をし、交易を行い、また掠奪と奴隷を求めて数多くの不意打ちをかけるようになった。

At the time the Spaniards discovered the Philippines, the Moro were a terror to the other inhabitants, and they continued to be so until very recent years. They became ferocious pirates infesting the southern seas and preying upon the rich trade which the Spaniards carried on with Mexico. Stone walls and watch towers were built at advantageous points to guard against them, but bays and creeks which afforded opportunities for lurking, surprise, and attack continued to be frequented by the treacherous warriors.

スペイン人がフィリピンを見つけたころ、モロはほかの住人にとって恐れの的であり、そしてつい近年までそうであり続けた。彼らは南の海に跳梁する凶暴な海賊となり、スペイン人がメキシコと行っていた豊かな交易を襲った。彼らに備えるために、有利な地点に石の壁と見張り塔が建てられた。けれども潜み、不意を打ち、襲う機を与える湾と入江には、この裏切りの戦士たちが絶えず出入りし続けた。

Since American occupation the waters have been made practically free from their ravages, but on land they have continued to give trouble. The greater part of the Moro now live in the Sulu Archipelago and on the Island of Mindanao. They range in degree of civilization from sea "gypsies," who wander from place to place, living for months in their rude outrigger boats, to settled communities which live by fishing and farming, and even by manufacturing some cloth, brass, and steel. Their villages are near the coast, along rivers, or about the shores of the interior lakes, the houses being raised high on poles near or over the water, for they live largely on food from the sea.

アメリカが領してからは、海はその荒らしからほぼ解かれた。けれども陸の上では困りごとを与え続けてきた。モロのほとんどはいまスル諸島とミンダナオ島に住んでいる。その開けの度合いはさまざまで、粗末な腕木舟で幾月も暮らしながら場所から場所へさすらう海の「漂泊民」から、漁と農で、さらには布や真鍮や鋼をいくらか作ることで暮らす定まった集落までにわたる。その村は海岸の近く、川沿い、あるいは内陸の湖の岸のあたりにあり、家は水の近くか水の上に柱で高く上げられている。暮らしの多くを海からの食べ物に頼っているからである。

Their folk-lore, as will be seen from the following tales, shows decided influence from Arabia and India, which has filtered in through the islands to the south. [140]

その民話は、以下の話から見て取れるように、南の島々を通って染み込んできたアラビアとインドの明らかな影響を示している。[140]