The Ceremonies 317 



that the spirits were pleased with the manner in which the ceremony 

 was being conducted, and hence the prospects for the patient's recovery 

 were very bright. Glpas, the dividing, followed. An old man divided 

 the pig with the medium, but by sly manipulation managed to get a 

 little more than she did. A betel-nut, beeswax, and a lead net-sinker 

 were tied together with a string, and were divided, but again the old 

 man received a little more than his share. Betel-nut was offered to 

 the pair. Apparently each piece was the same, but only one was sup- 

 plied with lime, and the mortal secured that. He then challenged the 

 medium to see whose spittle was the reddest. Both expectorated on 

 the head-axe, but since the spittle of the medium was not mixed with 

 lime, it was uncolored. In all instances the human being came out 

 victor over the spirit, who sought to take the woman's life. Hence 

 her recovery was assured. 



A new spirit possessed the medium, and under her directions the 

 family was placed beneath a blanket, and a coconut was cut in two 

 over their heads. In addition to the fluid of the nut, water was emptied 

 over them, "so that the sickness would be washed away." As soon as 

 the family emerged from the blanket, they went to their balaua, 1 and 

 offered food, after which the medium again summoned several spirits. 

 From this time until well into the evening, the guests danced tadek, 

 stopping only to be served with food and drink. 



The morning of the third and last day was spent in preparing food 

 and other offerings, which were placed on a mat and left, for a time, 

 to be used by the immortals. Later the offerings were consumed by the 

 guests, and the medium summoned the spirit Agkabkabayo. This be- 

 ing directed four men to carry the blanket on which the medium was 

 seated to the balaua, when they were met by another medium, possessed 

 by the spirit Balien. For a time they busied themselves making repairs 

 to the spirit structure, then decorated it by tying strips of shredded 

 coconut leaves to the slats of the floor. They also attached leaves to 

 the kalang (cf. p. 310), and inserted betel-nut and leaf. The final act 

 of the ceremony was to prepare four soloko (cf. p. 310). In the first 

 was placed a half coconut ; in the second was rice mixed with blood ; 

 in the third cooked flesh of a fowl ; and in the last were four stalks of 

 rice, and some pine-sticks. One was placed at each gate of the town 

 as an offering, and the people returned to their homes. 



As payment for their services, the mediums received a small portion 

 of the pig, some rice, beads, a little money, and cloth. 



1 Had they not possessed a balaua, they would have made this offering 

 in the dwelling. 



