326 The Tinguian 



Ngorong-or. — Lumaba and the Tinguian villages of Ilokos Sur 

 hold this ceremony, whenever a person is seriously ill with stomach 

 trouble. As the rite does not extend far into the Tinguian belt, but 

 is found in the Igorot villages farther south, it seems likely .that it is 

 an importation from that region. 



The members of the family gather in the afternoon, and kill a 

 small pig by cutting off its head. A part of the blood is saved, and the 

 balance is sprinkled against the house posts and ladder. The pig itself 

 is hung from one round of the ladder, so that its blood will drip to 

 the ground. The medium has been standing quietly to one side watch- 

 ing, but now she calls upon the spirits, "You (calling one or more by 

 name), come out; be vomited up, for now you are being fed." She 

 allows them a few minutes for their repast, then cuts open the carcass 

 and removes the liver. A bit is cut from the top, then she splits open 

 the animal's skull, and removes a little of the brain. This she places on 

 a banana leaf ; and, after adding a small piece of gold, wraps it up and 

 buries it beside the center post of the dwelling. The animal is now 

 cooked and served to the guests, but liberal portions are placed on the 

 house rafters and other places convenient for the spirits. 



Next morning a piece is cut from a dog's ear, is smeared with blood, 

 and is placed in a small split bamboo, together with two stalks of rice. 

 A clout is tied to a spear, and all are rubbed on the body of the patient, 

 while the medium explains that this is the betel-nut of the spirits, and 

 that, when she takes it from the village, they will go also, and the re- 

 covery be assured. The family follows her to the gate of the town, 

 and watches closely, as she thrusts the spear and pole into the ground ; 

 for if they are firmly set in the ground, yet lean away from the village, 

 it is certain that the spirits have departed, and the sick will recover. 



Following the ceremony, members of the family may not work for 

 five days, neither may they lead a horse or carabao, or eat of wild 

 meat. Should they do any of the things forbidden, they will be struck 

 by lightning. 



Sapata the Oath. — If a theft has been committed, and it has 

 been impossible to detect the guilty person, the following procedure 

 takes place. A rice-mortar is placed in the yard, and on it a dish of 

 basi. All the people are summoned to gather, and one by one they 

 drink of the liquor, meanwhile calling on the snakes to bite them, the 

 lightning to strike them, or their abdomens to swell up and burst if 

 they are guilty. Soon the people will know the culprit, for one of these 

 disasters will befall him. When that occurs, his family will be com- 

 pelled to make good the theft, as well as the expense of this gathering. 



