The Ceremonies 323 



the meat, some unthreshed rice, and other small gifts, as payment 

 for her services. The guests return to their homes, and for two or 

 three days following are barred from entering the new dwelling. Dur- 

 ing this period the family must remain indoors. 



Sangasang. — Sangasang is often so similar to the Bakid, that one 

 description might cover both. This is particularly true, if it is held to 

 remove a bad sign. Should a large lizard or a bird enter a new build- 

 ing, it is considered as a messenger of Kaboniyan; and the foregoing 

 ceremony is carried out, the only variation being that the bird or 

 lizard is caught, if possible, is anointed with oil, a bead is attached to 

 a leg, and it is then released to go back to its master. 



Continued misfortunes ta the members of a household would also 

 be an excuse for the ceremony. In this instance, the only variation 

 from the procedure just given would be in the diams. The first to be 

 recited tells how the spirit Maganawan sent many snakes and birds to 

 the gate of a town to demand the blood of a rooster mixed with rice. 

 The people celebrated Sangasang, and sent blood and rice to Mag- 

 anawan, who, in turn, spat it out on the ground. As he did so, the 

 sickness and misfortunes of the mortals vanished. The second dlam 1 

 relates a quarrel between the various parts of the house, each insisting 

 on its own importance. At last they recognize their mutual dependence, 

 and the people of the dwelling are again in good health. 2 



In Lumaba and nearby villages, unpleasant dreams, or a bad dis- 

 position are overcome by a ceremony called Sangasang; but, as this 

 varies somewhat from the others, it is given in detail. 



The medium, who is summoned for this event, calls for oil and a 

 rooster with long spurs. When these are brought, she strokes the fowl 

 with the oil, and chants the following dlam. "There is a very old woman 

 in the sea, and she says to her spirits, who are Dapeg (a spirit which 

 kills people), Balingenngen (a spirit which causes bad dreams), and 

 Benisalsal (a spirit which throws things and is unpleasant), 'Go be- 

 yond the sea and spread your sickness.' The spirits are going. They 

 arrive and begin their work, and if the people do not make Sangasang, 

 many will die. Now it is morning, and the spirits are going to the 

 river to see what the people have offered to the old woman, who is 

 Inawen. If they do not find anything, they will say, 'All the people in 

 this town shall die,' and then they will go on to another place." 



"Inawen, who is waiting, sends Kideng (a servant) to search for 



1 See Traditions of the Tinguian, this volume, No. 1, p. 174. 



2 Op. cit., p. 175. 



