The Cycle of Life 279 



On the appointed day, friends and relatives gather at the girl's 

 home and, after several hours of feasting and drinking, settle down 

 to the real business on hand. A large pig is slaughtered, and its liver 

 is carefully examined ; for, should the omens be unfavorable, it would 

 be useless to continue the negotiations further at that time (cf. p. 307). 

 If the signs are good, the happy crowd forms a circle, and then begins 

 a long and noisy discussion of the price which the girl should bring. 

 Theoretically, the payment is made in horses, carabao, jars, blankets, 

 and rice, but as each article is considered as having a value of five 

 pesos ($2.50), the money is frequently substituted, especially by 

 people in poor circumstances. 



A portion of the agreed price is paid at once, and is distributed 

 between the girl's parents and her relatives, who thus become vitally 

 interested in the successful termination of the match; for should it 

 fail of consummation, they must return the gifts received. The bal- 

 ance of the payment is often delayed for a considerable time, and it 

 not infrequently happens that there is still a balance due when the 

 man dies. In such a case no division of his property can be made 

 until the marriage agreement is settled in full. 



The completion of the list is the signal for great rejoicing; liquor 

 circulates freely, the men sing daleng (cf. p. 440), and tadek (cf. p. 

 440) is danced far into the night. 



In the yard where the dancing takes place, three inverted rice- 

 mortars are placed one above the other, "to serve as a table for the 

 spirits who always attend." A dish of liquor is placed on it, while 

 at its side is a spear decorated with a man's belt. 



These engagement-parties are the great social affairs of the year, 

 and friends will journey long distances to be present, but the betrothed 

 couple is seldom in evidence, and in many instances the groom is 

 absent. 



Following their engagement the children live with their parents 

 until such a time as they are considered old enough to maintain their 

 own home. If the lad comes from a well-to-do family, it is probable 

 that the final ceremony will take place before either of the couple 

 reaches puberty; but, if the groom must earn a living, the marriage 

 may be delayed until he is eighteen or nineteen years old (Plate XIII). 



When the time for the fulfillment of the agreement arrives, the 

 boy goes, in company, at night to the girl's house. He has a head- 

 axe hanging from his belt, but he is the only one so armed. An earlier 

 writer 1 has described a feigned attack on the house of the bride as 



1 Worcester, The Non-Christian Tribes of Northern Luzon (Philippine 

 Jour, of Science, Vol. I, No. 8, 1906, p. 858). 



