CHAPTER XXVI 



SACRIFICES AND WAR RITES 

 THE SACRIFICE OF A PIG 



Religion is so interwoven with the Manobo's life, as has been constantly stated in this 

 monograph, that it is impossible to group under the heading of religion all the various observances 

 and rites that properly belong to it. 1 I will now give an account of the sacrifice of a pig that 

 took place on the Kasilaian River, central Agusan, for the recovery of a sick man. This sac- 

 rifice may be considered typical of the ordinary ceremony in which a pig is immolated, whether 

 it be for the recovery of a sick man or to avert evil or to solicit any other favor. 



I arrived at the house at about 4 p. m. Near the pole leading up to the house stood the newly 

 erected rectangular bamboo stand. 2 On this, with a few palm fronds arched over it, was tightly 

 bound the intended victim, a fat castrated pig. Within a few yards of this had been erected the 

 small houselike structure, 3 which has been described already. It contained several plates full 

 of offerings of uncooked rice and eggs, which had been placed there previously. The ceremonies 

 began shortly after my arrival. Three women of the priestly order sat down near the ceremonial 

 house and prepared a large number of betel-nut quids for their respective deities, but the spec- 

 tators never ceased for a moment to ask for a share of them. Finally, however, the quids were 

 prepared and placed on the sacred plates, seven to each plate. Then one of the priestesses 

 placed a little resin upon a piece of bamboo and, calling for a firebrand, placed it upon the resin. 

 The other two priestesses, seizing in each hand a piece of palm branch, proceeded to dance to the 

 sound of drum and gong. They were soon joined by the third officiant. All three danced for 

 some five minutes until, as if by previous understanding, the gong and drum ceased, and one of the 

 priestesses broke out into the invocation. This consisted of a series of repetitions and circum- 

 locutions in which her favorite deities were reminded of the various sacrifices that had been per- 

 formed in their honor from time immemorial; of the number of pigs that had been slain; of the 

 size of these victims; of the amount of drink consumed; of the number of guests present; and of an 

 infinity of other things that it would be tedious to recount. This was rattled off while the spec- 

 tators were enjoying themselves with betel-nut chewing and while conversation was being 

 carried on in the usual vehement way. Then the drum and gong boomed out again and the 

 three priestesses circled about in front of the ceremonial shed for about five minutes, after which 

 comparative quiet ensued and another priestess took up the invocation. During her prolix 

 harangue to the spirits the other two busied themselves, one in rearranging the offerings in the 

 little shed, the other in fighting more incense, while the spectators continued their prattle, heed- 

 less of the services. After an interval of some 1 minutes the sacred dance was continued, the 

 priestesses circling and sweeping around with their palm branches waving up and down as they 

 swung their arms in graceful movements through the air. This continued for several minutes, 

 until one of them stopped suddenly and began to tremble very perceptibly. The other two 

 continued their dance around her, waving their palm fronds over her. The trembling increased in 

 violence until her whole body seemed to be in a convulsion. Her eyes assumed a ghastly stare, 

 her eyeballs protruded, and the eyelids quivered rapidly. The drum and gong increased their 

 booming in volume and in rapidity, while the dancers surged in rapid circles around the possessed 

 one, who at this period was apparently unconscious of everything. Her eyes were shaded with 

 one hand and a copious perspiration covered her whole body. When finally the music and the 



I The reader is referred to Chapter XV for a description of the important religious ceremonies and beliefs connected with the subject of death, 

 to Chapter X for rice culture ceremonies, to Chapter XIV for the birth ceremony. Descriptions of various other ceremonies will be found scattered 

 through this monograph, each under its proper heading. 



a Aiig-kan. 



> Ka-md-lig. 



209 



