The Ceremonies 321 



bring about this affliction, unless they are kept in good humor, and 

 have something to occupy their time other than disturbing human 

 beings; hence these houses are built for them, suitable offerings are 

 placed inside, and finally a few banana suckers are planted close by, so 

 that the spirits will be kept busy caring for them. 



The origin of the ceremony is ascribed to a woman of ancient times, 

 named Bagutayka, who, lacking certain organs, appears as an outcast. 

 She at first caused passers-by to have trouble with their feet and limbs, 

 but later taught them how to effect a cure by building the bazvl and 

 performing the ceremony. 1 



To-day, when a person is afflicted, he summons a medium, the 

 spirit-house is built, and then the following diam is recited over a 

 rooster : 



"You abat above, 



"You abat in the ground, 



"You abat in the corner of the house, 



"You abat in the center pole, . 



"You abat below the stair, 



"You abat in the door, 



"You SElday in the wooded hill, 



"You SElday above, 



"Make the sick person well, if you please!'" 



When the recital is finished, the fowl is killed, and its blood mixed 

 with rice is placed in nine dishes and one polished coconut shell. From 

 these it is transferred to nine other dishes and one bamboo basket. 

 These are placed in a row, and nine dishes and one unpolished shell 

 are filled with water, and placed opposite. In the center of this double 

 line is a dish, containing the cooked flesh of the rooster, also some rice, 

 and one hundred fathoms of thread, while between the dishes are laid 

 ten half betel-nuts, prepared for chewing. Later, all these things are 

 returned to a single receptacle, except those in the shell cups and 

 basket, which are placed in the spirit-house. The underlying idea 

 in this procedure seems to be that frequently found in other ceremonies, 

 namely, that food and water symbolizes the life of the patient, which is 

 partially taken away by the spirits; but when they are returned to 

 one place, the life must be replaced in a like manner. 



In Manabo a piece of banana bark is taken from one of the plant- 

 ings beside a bawl; and, after being washed in the water, is applied 

 to the affected limb. 



The final act is to take a coconut husk, stick feathers in its sides, 

 and hang it beside the bazul as a sign to all that the ceremony has 

 been held. 



'See Tradition of the Tinguian, this volume, No. 1, p. 178. 

 'This diam is sometimes repeated for the saloko (see p. 319). 



