278 The Tinguian 



in society, and at an early age begins to absorb its customs and beliefs. 

 He sits about the village fires in the evenings, and listens to the tales 

 of long ago, or hears the elders discuss the problems of their daily 

 life. During the hot midday hours, he lounges in the field-houses, while 

 his parents relate the fate of lazy children ; or tell of punishments sent 

 by the spirits on those who fail to follow the customs of the ancestors, 

 or give heed to the omens. He attends the ceremonies, where he not 

 only learns the details of these important events, but with his own 

 eyes sees the bodies of the mediums possessed by superior beings, and 

 thus the close relationship of the spirit world to his people is forcibly 

 brought to his notice. He is never debarred from the dances or other 

 activities; in fact, he is encouraged to take part in them or to imitate 

 his elders. Soon custom gathers him into its net, and unless he is the 

 exceptional individual, or comes in intimate contact with outsiders, 

 he never escapes. 



It has already been seen that he begins very early to take an active 

 part in the village life, but it is many years before he assumes a 

 position of importance in the group. It is only when age and ex- 

 perience have gained for him the respect of his fellows that he begins 

 to have a voice in the more weighty affairs of Tinguian life. 



Engagement and Marriage. — Since there are no clans or other 

 groupings to limit the number of families in which unions may be 

 contracted, the only impediments are former marriage ties or blood 

 relationship. Cousins may not marry, neither is a man allowed to 

 wed his step-sister, his wife's sister, or her mother. 



Engagement takes place while the children are very young, some- 

 times while they are still babes-in-arms ; but usually the contract is 

 made when they are six or eight years of age. 



The boy's parents take the initiative, and having selected a suit- 

 able girl, they broach the subject to her family. This is not done 

 directly, but through an intermediary, generally a relative, "who can 

 talk much and well." He carries with him three beads — one red, 

 one yellow, and one agate, 1 which he offers "as an evidence of af- 

 fection," and then proceeds to relate the many desirable qualities of 

 the groom and his family, as well as the advantages to be gained 

 by the union. If the suit is favored, the beads are attached to the 

 girl's wrist as a sign of her engagement, and a day is set for the 

 pakdlon 2 or price fixing. 



1 In Patok only the agate bead (napodau) is used. 



' The less pretentious gathering, held by the very poor, is known as polya. 



