The Cycle of Life 291 



from near and far; and rice, pigs, cows or carabaos are prepared for 

 food, while basi flows freely. It is said that the liquor served at this 

 time is "like tears for the dead." A medium goes to the guardian stones 

 of the village, and there offers rice mixed with blood; she oils the 

 stones, places new yellow headbands on each one, and after dancing 

 tadek, returns to the gathering. Often she is accompanied by a number 

 of men, who shout on their return trip "to frighten away evil spirits." 



Near the house a chair is made ready for the deceased, and in it are 

 placed clothing and food. In the yard four crossed spears form the 

 frame-work on which a shield rests (Plate XVIII) 1 and on this 

 are beads, food, and garments — offerings for the spirits; while near 

 the house ladder is the spirits' table made of inverted rice mortars. 



The duration of this ceremony depends largely on the wealth of the 

 family, for the relatives must furnish everything needed at this time. 

 Games are played, and there is much drinking and singing; but before 

 the members of the family may take part, they are dressed in good 

 garments, and the blood and oil ceremony is repeated on them. At the 

 conclusion of the dancing, they go into the house, roll up the mat used 

 by the dead, open the doors and windows, and all are again free to do 

 as they wish. Should they fail to roll up the mat at this time, it must 

 remain until another Layog is held ; and during the interval all the 

 former restrictions are in force. 2 



About twenty years ago, a great number of people in Patok died of 

 cholera ; and since then the people of that village have held a Layog in 

 their honor each November, to the expense of which all contribute. As 

 this is just before the rice-harvest, a time when all the people wear 

 their best garments, it is customary for the old men to allow bereaved 

 families to participate in this ceremony and then release them from 

 mourning. 



Beliefs Concerning the Spirit of the Dead. — Direct question- 

 ing brings out some differences of opinion, in the various districts, 

 concerning the spirit of the dead. In Manabo, a town influenced both 

 by the Igorot of the Upit River valley and the Christianized Ilocano of 

 San Jose, the spirit is said to go at once to the great spirit Kadaklan, 



1 This is known as Apapdyag or Inapapayag (p. 309). 



2 The foregoing ceremonies follow the death of any adult, male or female, 

 but not of newborn children. If the first-born dies in infancy, it is buried in 

 the middle of the night when no one can see the corpse, otherwise other babies 

 will die. The parents don old garments, and are barred from leaving the town 

 or engaging in pastimes, until the ten-day period has passed. No fire is built 

 at the grave, nor are offerings placed over it. When some one else is holding 

 a Layog, the parents may join them "to relieve their sorrow and show respect 

 for the dead." 



