demand in rhyme than our own; it is sufficient if
the final syllables contain the same vowel; thus Rizal says--_ayup_
and _pagud_, _aval_ and _alam_, rhyme. The commonest riddle verse
contains five or seven, or six, syllables, thus:

Daluang balon
hindi malingon

or

Bahay ni San Gabriel
punong puno nang barel.

Just as in European riddles certain set phrases or sentences are
found frequently at the beginning or end of the riddle. In Ilocano
and Pangasinan a common introductory form is "What creature of
God" or "What thing made by Lord God," the expression in reality
being equivalent to a simple "what." These pious forms do not at all
necessarily refer either to animals or natural objects; thus, a boat or
a house is just as good a "creature of God" as a fowl is. A common form
of ending is "Tell it and I am yours," "Guess it and I am your man."

Quite analogous to calling inanimate or artificial things "creatures
of God" is the personification of all sorts of things, animate and
inanimate; thus, a rat is "an old man," a dipper is "a boy." Not
infrequently the object or idea thus personified is given a title of
respect; thus, "Corporal Black" is the night. Akin to personification
is bold metaphor and association. In this there may or may not be
some evident analogy; thus a crawfish is "a bird," the banca or canoe
is "rung" (like a bell.) Not uncommonly the word "house" is used of
anything thought of as containing something; thus "Santa Ana's house,"
"San Gabriel's house;" this use is particularly used in speaking
of fruits. "Santa Ana's house is full of bullets" is rather pretty
description for the papaya. The word "work" is often used for a thing
made, or a manufactured article.

Saints' names are constantly introduced, generally in the possessive
case; examples are "Santa Ana's house," "Santa Maria's umbrella,"
"San Jose's canes." Less commonly the names of other Bible worthies
occur; thus "Adam's hair." There is not always any evident fitness in
the selection of the Saint in the connection established. San Jose's
connection with rain is suitable enough. One would need to know a
good deal regarding local and popular hagiography in order to see to
what degree the selections are appropriate.

Sometimes words without meaning, or with no significance in the
connection where they occur are used. These may serve merely
to fill out a line or to meet the demands of metre. Such often
appear to be