316 The Tinguian 



medium recited a dlam over it, 1 and then ordered that it remain there 

 throughout the ceremony. On a large mat in the center of the room 

 were placed betel-nuts, coconuts, and leaves, two jars — one empty, 

 the other filled with basi — , a large and small head-axe, two spears, 

 and some shells. An empty jar had a string of beads tied around its 

 neck, and inside it was placed a switch, care being taken that a portion 

 of it hung outside. Beside the jar was a basket containing five bundles 

 of unthreshed rice, on which was a skein of thread supporting a new 

 jar. All this was covered with a woman's skirt. Finally a bound pig 

 was laid just inside the door. 



When all was complete, three men played on the tongdtong (cf. 

 p. 314), until one of the mediums took her place beside the mat. Raising 

 a plate above her head, she struck it repeatedly with a small head-axe, 

 to call attention of the spirits. 2 Then she began to chant and wail 

 calling the spirits to enter her body. After two or three moments of 

 song, she was possessed by a spirit, who announced that his name was 

 Ibalinsogwan. He placed a rooster at one end of a spear, and a bundle 

 of rice at the other, did a short dance, and departed. The mediums 

 then seated themselves on opposite sides of the jar of basi; each drank 

 of the liquor, and the chant began again. Spirit after spirit took pos- 

 session of one of the mediums, who then conversed with the other, 

 asked questions concerning the patient, or other matters, and occasion- 

 ally offered advice. Before his departure, each spirit would drink of 

 the basi. 



The members of the family were present during most of the day; 

 friends came, and went as they pleased, stopped to listen to or talk 

 with the spirits, drank basi, and then went about their work. 



Early the second morning, the mediums went to a bound pig in 

 the house, and after placing betel-nut on its back, they poured water 

 into its ear. This caused the animal to shake its head ; and, as the 

 water was thrown out, one of the mediums caught it in her hand, and 

 applied it to the sick woman, at the same time chanting, "Go away 

 sickness, be thrown out like this water; let this person be well, for 

 she is now following the custom." As soon as she had finished, two 

 men carried the animal to the river bank, where they killed and singed 

 it. Upon their return to the house, they removed and carefully ex- 

 amined its liver; for, by the markings on it, the people were assured 



*For the dlam recited at this time, see Traditions of the Tinguian, this 

 volume, No. 1, p. 171. 



2 More frequently the medium uses a piece of lead or one of the shells 

 of her piling for this purpose. In many villages the medium, while calling 

 the spirits, wears one head-band for each time the family has made this 

 ceremony. 



