234 THE MANOBOS OF MINDANAO— GARVAN [M ™°™o?.xxui, 



to remind the congregation that faithful male followers would be saved by means of their shields 

 when the world toppled over. 



The high priest danced only about two minutes, because his spirit came upon him, and 

 he fell down upon one knee, unable to rise. I never saw a more gruesome spectacle. A bright 

 unnatural light gleamed in his eyes, his countenance became livid, the eyeballs protruded, a 

 copious perspiration streamed from his body, the muscles of his face twitched, and his whole 

 frame shook more and more vehemently as the intensity of the paroxysm increased. Fearing 

 an utter collapse, I assisted him to his feet and left him resting against the wall. 



As soon as the high priest fell under the spell of his spirit, one of the assistants broke forth 

 into a loud chant, which ever and anon he interrupted with a loud coughlike sound followed 

 by the words, "tungud, turlgud, tagdan." This chant, as well as the subsequent ones, was 

 taken up by several of the assistants successively and, according to the interpretation furnished 

 me, dealt with the wondrous doings of Meskinan in the underworld and described in detail 

 the end of the world as announced by Meskinan. In succession each of the priests, including 

 the local ones, danced and fell under the influence of their deities, but not with such vehemence 

 as the high priest whose spirit was declared to be "very big." 



An important point to be noted in the dance was the removal by the dancer at some part 

 of the dance of his sacred headdress, 15 the emblem of his new priesthood. This was a kerchief 

 which was supposed to have been given personally by Meskinan to everyone upon whom he 

 had conferred a Magbabdya. Removing his handkerchief the priest waved it over the heads 

 of. the congregation and finally over or near any object that he desired. This was an intimation 

 that such object became consecrated and thereby the property of the great Magbabaya of Liba- 

 ganon. A refusal to surrender it was tantamount to perdition when the end should come. 

 Such was the doctrine universally preached and as uniformly believed and practiced. 



Continuing the ceremony, the high priest made several efforts to dance, but always with 

 the same result. He chanted, however, frequently, but always made use of many words that 

 had been taught him by his spirit and which were unintelligible to my interpreters. 



After about two hours we all left the religious building and took up our positions around 

 the sacrificial table, the priests in the center. Those whose spears, daggers, bracelets, and other 

 property had been consecrated by the waving of a priest's headdress now deposited them under 

 or near the table. 



The high priest was the principal officiant, but was assisted by his fellow priests from the 

 Agusan and by the new local priests. None of the priests of the old religion took any part, 

 the old gods being supposed to have yielded to the new Magbabaya. 



The only divergences from the usual ceremonial proceedings on the occasion of a sacrifice 

 were the placing of the sacred headdresses over the victim and the omission of omen taking, 

 blood libation, and blood drinking. The pig was killed by plunging a dagger through its left 

 side, the blood was caught in a pan, and the meat was consumed in a subsequent feast in which 

 the priests did not participate, not being permitted, they said, by their respective deities. 



The scene that followed the killing of the pig was indescribable. The priests covered 

 their heads and faces with their sacred kerchiefs and trembled with intense vehemence, some 

 leaning against the posts of the sacrificial table, the high priest himself groveling on the 

 ground on all fours, unable to arise from sheer exhaustion. When the death-blow had been dealt 

 to the victim they broke into the mystic words, "tungud, tungud, tagdan," with loud coughs at 

 the end. These words were taken up by the bystanders and shouted with vehemence. Many 

 of them, especially the small girls, fell into paroxysms of trembling. Many of the men and 

 adult women divested themselves of their property, such as necklaces, bracelets, and arms, 

 and laid them near the sacrificial table. Others promised to make an offering as soon as they 

 could procure one. 



» Mo-ii. 



