/ 

 2go The Tinguian 



of the dead are laid ready for use, and at meal time food is placed 

 beside it. The length of time that the mat is left spread out differs 

 somewhat between towns and families. In some cases it is taken up at 

 the end of the period of taboo, while in others it is not rolled up ; nor 

 are the windows of the house opened until after the celebration of the 

 Layog ceremony, a year later. 



The taboo is usually strictly observed through ten days ; but should 

 there be some urgent reason, such as planting or reaping, it may be 

 raised somewhat earlier. It is concluded by the blood and oil ceremony. 

 The lakay, the other old men of the settlement, and all the relatives, 

 gather in the house of mourning, while the mediums prepare for the 

 ceremony. They kill a small pig and collect its blood in a dish ; in an- 

 other receptacle they place oil. A brush has been made out of a variety 

 of leaves, and this the medium dips into the blood and oil, then draws 

 it over the wrists or ankles of each person present, meanwhile saying, 

 "Let the lew-lezv (Fiscus hauili Blanco) leaves take the sickness and 

 death to another town; let the kazvayan ("bamboo") make them grow 

 fast and be strong as it is, and have many branchesf let the atilwag 

 (Breynia acuminata Nuell. Arg.) turn the sickness to other towns." 

 A little oil is rubbed on the head of each person present; and all, ex- 

 cept the widow, are then freed from restrictions. She must still refrain 

 from wearing her beads, ornaments, or good clothing; and she is 

 barred from taking part in any merry-making until after the Layog 

 ceremony. 1 



At the conclusion of the anointing, the old men discuss the disposal 

 of the property and other matters of importance in connection with 

 the death. 



The Layog. 2 — Several months after the burial (generally after the 

 lapse of a year), the friends and relatives are summoned in the Layog, 

 — a ceremony held with the avowed intention "to show respect for the 

 dead and to cause the family to forget their sorrow." Friends come 



1 In Ilocos Sur a ceremony which lifts the ban off the relatives is held 

 about five days after the funeral. Three months later, the blood and oil are 

 applied to the spouse, who is then released from all restrictions. In San Juan 

 and Lakub, a ceremony known as Kilyas is held five days after the funeral. 

 The anointing is done as decribed above, and then the medium drops a ball of 

 rice under the house, saying, "Go away sickness and death, do" not come to 

 our relatives." When she has finished, drums are brought out, all the relatives 

 dance and "forget the sorrow," and are then released from all taboos. The 

 Layog is celebrated as in the valley towns. 



3 Also known as Waxi in San Juan, and Bagoiigon in Sallapadin. In the 

 latter village, as well as in Manabo and Ba-ak, this ceremony occurs a few 

 days after the funeral. 



