with the use of metaphors such as: "that eats only heads". Other beliefs involving riddling is that it should not be done at night, so as not to invite the participation of evil spirits. Another belief associated with riddling at night is the avoidance of the word nipai (snake). If the use of the word cannot be avoided, euphemisms are resorted to, e.g., "big worm" (Notre Dame Journal 1980:20-25). Maguindanao verses are expressed through such forms as ida-ida a rata (children rimes sung in chorus), or through tubud-tubud (short love poem). For instance: Pupulayog sa papas ka pumagapas apas Ka tulakin kon ko banog Na diron pukatalakin Ka daon kasakriti. Kanogon si kanogon nakanogon ni ladan ko A pukurasai mamikir ana palandong a dar Na di akun mapkangud a bologang ko sa gugao Ka Oman akun ipantao na pusulakan ig O matao kandalia. Flying hard, the swift is Trying to catch up with the hawk But he cannot equal him Because he is far too small Woe, woe unto me Worried from thinking of a loved one And I cannot let my feelings prevail, express my love Because every time I want to reveal it Stops it in its way. Composed in metaphorical language, the bayok is resorted to when a cautious and euphemistic expression is required. An example (Wein 1983:35-36): Salangkunai a meling A malidu bpagimanen, Ka mulaun sa dibenal Dun-dun ai lumaging A paya pagilemuan Ka mumbus sa hakadulat Na u saken idumanding Sa kaludn pun na is na matag aku 'ngka maneg di ku mawatang galing. Talking Salangkunai T'is hard to trust in you, For untrue leaves could sprout Dun-dun fond of chatting T'is hard believing you For cheating buds may show Once I [start to] fondle From the sea You would just hear from me My darling, close to me. Tudtul (folktales) Tudtul (folktales) are short stories involving simple events. Two examples are presented. The Lagya Kudarat tells the adventures of the two children of Lagya (rajah) Mampalai of Lum who are blown away after Mampalai laments the lack of viable partners for his children. These two children are Lagya Kudarat and Puteli (princess) Sittie Kumala. Puteli Kumala is blown to a forest where she meets a kabayan (in all Maguindanao stories, this character is associated with an old unmarried woman). The kabayan adopts her, as she earlier did the prince named Sumedsen sa Alungan. Although