IV. RELIGION AND MAGIC 



The Tinguian has been taught by his elders that he is surrounded 

 by a great body of spirits, some good, some malevolent. The folk-tales 

 handed down from ancient times add their authority to the teachings 

 of older generations, while the individual himself has seen the bodies 

 of the mediums possessed by the superior beings ; he has communicated 

 with them direct, has seen them cure the sick and predict coming events. 

 At many a funeral, he has seen the medium squat before the corpse, 

 chanting a weird song, and then suddenly become possessed by the 

 spirit of the deceased ; and, finally, he or some of his friends or towns- 

 people are confident that they have seen and talked to ghosts of the 

 recently departed. All these beings are real to him ; he is so certain of 

 their existence that he seldom speculates about them or their acts. 



Some of these spirits are always near ; and a part of them, at least, 

 take more than an ordinary interest in human affairs. Thanks to the 

 teachings of the elders, the Tinguian knows how to propitiate them ; 

 and, if necessary, he may even compel friendly action on the part of 

 many. Toward the less powerful of the evily disposed beings, he shows 

 indifference or insolence ; he may make fun of, or lie to, and cheat them 

 during the day, but he is careful to guard himself at night against their 

 machinations. To the more powerful he shows the utmost respect ; he 

 offers them gifts of food, drink, and material objects; and conducts 

 ceremonies in the manner demanded by them. Having done these 

 things, he feels that he is a party to a bargain; and the spirits must, 

 on their part, repay by granting the benefits desired. Not entirely con- 

 tent with these precautions, he performs certain magical acts which 

 prevent evil spirits from doing harm to an individual or a community, 

 and by the same means he is able to control storms, the rise of streams, 

 and the growth of crops. It is doubtful if the Tinguian has ever 

 speculated in regard to this magical force, yet he clearly separates 

 it from the power resident in the spirit world. It appears to be a great 

 undifferentiated force to which spirits, nature, and men are subject 

 alike. 



If a troublesome question arises, or an evident inconsistency in his 

 beliefs is called to his attention, he disposes of it by the simple state- 

 ment that it is kadauyan ("custom"), "was taught by the ancestors," 

 and hence is not subject to question. 



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