This is a legend I found on Påle’ Eric’s blog about why the fanihi (fruitbat) doesn’t have friends. I enjoyed this legend, and had never heard any story about the fruitbat before reading this one. We used this story during one of our practice sessions, and Jay Che’le recorded the narration because this was one of Påle’s older posts that didn’t have audio. I’ve also included the Chamorro and English in this post for reading along with the audio. Hope you enjoy it!

Håfa Muna’Tåya’ Atungo’-ñiha i Fanihi

Tinige’ as Påle Eric Forbes

Åntes na tiempo, annai tåya’ trabiha taotao mañåsaga gi hilo’ tano’-ta, mansen afa’maolek todu i ga’ga’ siha gi tano’, tånto ayu siha i mañåsaga gi tano’ yan kontodu i paluma siha ni manggugupu gi aire.

Un diha, mampos maipe i ha’åne; i semnak mampos metgot. Pues manggupu i fanihi siha para u fanmanespia liheng-ñiha, yan para u eskapåyi i minaipen somnak. Ma sodda’ dångkulon liyang ya mañåga ha’ guihi, manmagof yan mangontentu. Ayu mismo na ha’åne, manásangani i paluma siha. 

“Kao ti en repåra na mås mandichoso hit kini pumalu siha na gå’ga’?” mamaisen un paluma. 

Manmasåså’pet siha an mampos somnak i ha’åne, sa’ ti siña siha manggupu, ti parehu yan hita. Pues ma tutuhon i paluma siha ma butlea i ga’ga’ siha gi tano’. “Manmetgot-ña ham ki hamyo na gå’ga’ tåno’! Manmalate’-ña ham ki hamyo!” Ya ennao mina’manmumu i paluma siha gi aire yan i ga’ga’ siha gi tano’. 

Gi mimun-ñiñiha, manggupu i paluma siha guato gi liyang nai manggaige i fanihi. “Hoi! Fanhuyung hamyo na fanihi ya en ayuda ham manmumu yan i ga’ga’ tåno’!” 

Ilek-ñiha i fanihi, “Ai lokkue’! Haftaimano para in fanmumu yan i ga’ga’ tåno’? In na’gigimen i nenen-måme ni lechen-måme, parehu yan siha.”

 Pues, gi linalålo’-ñiha nu i fanihi siha, ilek-ñiha i paluma, “Hamyo la’mon,” ya manhånao. 

Didide’ despues, manfinatoigue i fanihi siha nu i ga’ga’ tåno’ ya manfinaisen, “Kao manmagof hamyo ya ta fanhita manmumu yan i paluma siha?” 

“Ai lokkue’!” ilek-ñiha i fanihi. “Haftaimano para in fanmumu yan i paluma siha, yanggen manggugupu ham gi aire parehu yan siha?” 

Mandisgustao i ga’ga’ tåno’ siha mina’ i ineppen-ñiha i fanihi ya ma sangåni i fanihi siha, “Hamyo la’mon, lao desde på’go para mo’na, tåya’ esta entre hamyo yan hami.”

Ya desde ayu na ha’åne, tåya’ atungo’-ñiha i fanihi. Mana’atok gi halom liyang an ha’åne, ya manhuyung para u fanmanespia na’-ñiha solu an puengi.

What Caused The Fruitbats To Have No Friends

By Father Eric Forbes

In past times, when no humans yet lived on our land, all the animals on earth got along very well, those who stay on land and the birds as well who are flying in the air. 

One day, the day was too hot; the sunshine was too strong. So the fruit bats flew to find their shelter, and to escape the heat of the sunshine. They found a huge cave and they stayed there, happy and content. 

That very same day, the birds said to each other, “Do you not realize that we are more fortunate than the other animals?” one bird asked. “They suffer when the day is too sunny, because they cannot fly, not like us.”

So the birds began to ridicule the animals on the land. “We are stronger than you, the animals on land! We are smarter than you!” And that is why the birds of the air and the animals on land fought. 

In their fighting, the birds flew to the cave where the fruit bats were. “Hey! Come out you fruit bats and help us fight with the animals of the land!”

The fruit bats said, “Oh dear! How are we to fight the animals of the land? We make our babies drink our milk, the same as them.”

So, in their anger towards the fruit bats, the birds said, “Up to you,” and they went. 

A little later, the fruit bats were visited by the animals of the land and were asked, “Would you be willing for us be together and fight the birds?”

“Oh dear,” said the fruit bats. How are we going to fight the birds, if we fly in the air like they do?”

The land animals were displeased because of the fruit bats’ reply and they told the bats, “Up to you, but from now on, there is nothing between you and us.” And since that day, the fruit bats have no friends. They hide inside caves when it is day, and come out to look for their food only when it is night.