ss Field Museum of Natural History — Anth., Vol. XII. 



At nightfall of the day in which the planting has been completed a 

 mabalian cooks lish and rice, which she carries to the parobanian. 

 Early next morning the family goes to the field and eats this offering 

 which "belongs to Taragomi, so should be eaten at his house." From 

 this time until harvest the fields must be guarded against birds and 

 animals, but no further offerings take place unless unusual conditions 

 should satisfy the owner that the spirits are demanding more gifts. 

 When harvest time comes the owner and a few of his friends w T ill go to 

 the field and pull a few of the fresh stalks, which they place in the 

 pEmEg'ge and parobanian, meanwhile addressing the spirits, and the 

 cutting of the rice begins. This is done by women who, for this purpose, 

 employ a small knife called gElat (Plate XXTXd). The last grain to 

 be cut is that about the parobanian. The mabalian cooks a little of the 

 new rice in the house and places a part of it in the various tambara and 

 shrines; then, having placed a number of rice stalks on the floor, she 

 offers them one by one to the spirits. Not until she has finished can 

 any of the prepared food be eaten. The balance of the crop lies in the 

 sun until dry, when it is tied in bundles and placed in the granary. 



When all the harvesting is finished the people will make a festival 

 known as Gatokbia-an, or Pakakaro. Ordinarily each family will have 

 its own celebration, but at times all the inhabitants of a village will 

 join in one great celebration. The period of toil and doubt is past, the 

 food supply is assured, and the people gather to give thanks. No New 

 England Thanksgiving dinner is prepared with greater thought, or 

 less regard for expense, than that which is made ready at this time. 

 The finest of the rice, cocoanuts, eggs, chickens, fish, shrimps, and many 

 other edibles are prepared and placed in certain dishes which are 

 dedicated to the spirits and are used only at this time. These plates 

 are arranged in a row in the center of the room and the mabalian gather 

 around them. Taking a wand of sandal wood in her hand one of the 

 number waves it over the offerings, while she chants long prayers. 

 Beginning with the most powerful, she addresses the spirits one by one, 

 thanking them for the care they have given to the growing grain and 

 to the laborers, and for the bounteous harvest. Frequently individuals 

 will interrupt the proceedings to place near to the mabalian a fine knife 

 or some other prized object which they desire to have presented to the 

 spirits as evidence of their gratitude. At first, it is a little hard to 

 understand this lavishness, but it transpires that the former owners 

 still have possession of these objects, and that the spirits offer no 

 objections to their use, so long as their ownership is not disputed, truly 

 a case of eating the pie but still having it. 



