Introduction 23 



desire to do so, he must first give, in order, all the lesser events, a costly 

 procedure extending over a period of several years. The people of 

 Kadalayapan and Kaodanan always appear as being closely related to 

 the spirit Kaboniyan, 1 and exceedingly powerful. It seems probable 

 that the story teller takes it for granted that all of them are entitled to 

 hold the most important ceremony known to the Tinguian. 



A prominent figure in these rites is the medium, through whom the 

 ancient people generally conversed with the spirits, but in exceptional 

 cases we found the heroes talking direct with the superior beings; how- 

 ever, this gift is not confined to the men of old, for in such tales as 55 

 and 59 people who are believed to have lived recently have conversed 

 with the spirits and have even been joined to them in marriage. 



The procedure in choosing a bride, the engagement, the pakdlon, 1 and 

 the marriage proper are all those of the present day, but the rules govern- 

 ing the marriage of relatives differ radically. As already noted, one of 

 the chief qualifications for marriage, among the people of the tales, was 

 relationship, and even cousins became husband and wife. Such a thing 

 is unthinkable among the Tinguian of to-day; first cousins are absolutely 

 barred from marrying, while even the union of second cousins would 

 cause a scandal, and it is very doubtful if such a wife would be allowed 

 to share in her deceased husband's property. 5 



It appears that only one real 4 wife is recognized as legitimate, but 

 that from "the first times" to the present a man might have as many 

 concubines as he could secure. 



So far as mythology and present day conditions can inform us the 

 bride has always gone to the home of her husband and, for a time at 

 least, has been subject to the dictations of her mother-in-law, although 

 the couple are generally soon established in a home of their own, in the 

 town of the groom. There is nothing in Tinguian life or tradition to 

 indicate that they have ever had a clan system or a matriarchal form of 

 government. 



The few references to the procedure immediately after a death indi- 

 cate that, in part, the people of to-day follow the old custom; but here 

 again an important departure occurs. We are thrice told that the corpse 

 was placed on a little raft called tabalang and set adrift on the river; and 



1 Among the Ifugao, the lowest of the four layers or strata which overhang the 

 earth is known as Kabuniyan. See Beyer, Philippine Journal of Science, Vol. VIII, 

 1913, No. 2, p. 98. 



•See p. 11. 



* An Ifugao myth gives sanction to the marriage of brother and sister under 

 certain circumstances, although it is prohibited in every day life. Beyer, Philippine 

 Journal of Science, Vol. VIII, 1913, No. 2, pp. 100 ff. 



4 As opposed to the spirit mate of Aponltolau. 



