The Ceremonies 343 



sprinkled liberally over the ground and the gathering broken up for 

 the morning. 



All the forenoon, a small group of men and women, had been 

 constructing a small covered bamboo raft, and had placed in it a sack 

 of rice, which had been contributed by all the people. 1 



By four o'clock a large number of people had gathered in the 

 yard near the house, and soon the spirit mats were spread on an 

 old bedstead, and the mediums started again to summon the superior 

 beings. The first two to appear were Esteban from Cagayan and Maria 

 from Spain. They wore gay handkerchiefs about their shoulders, and 

 when they danced, gave an imitation of the Spanish dances now seen 

 among the Christianized natives of the coast. It was quite evident 

 that these foreign spirits were not popular with the people, and they 

 were distinctly relieved when Mananako replaced them. This spirit 

 has the reputation of being a thief, and the guests had great sport 

 preventing him from stealing the gifts intended for other spirits. 



In the midst of this revelry, the other medium was suddenly pos- 

 sessed by Kadaklan — the supreme being. The laughter and jesting 

 ceased, and breathlessly the people listened, while the most powerful 

 being said, "I am Kadaklan. Here in this town where I talk, you 

 must do the things you ought to do. I hear what you say you desire, 

 and I see what you are able to do. Something ill will befall you unless 

 you quickly pelebrate Sagobay (cf. p. 324), when there are no strangers 

 or Christians in your town. Where is the basi which should have 

 been in the place where I first came? 2 Without awaiting an answer 

 he vanished, and his wife AgEmEm took his place and repeated his 

 remarks with little variation. 



Sopo, a gambler, next appeared and tossed handfuls of coins into 

 a blanket. He stated that if heads came up, the people won and would 

 have good health, but if they lost, their lives were his. As soon as he 

 threw, the people rushed up, and if they saw any tails they were quickly 

 turned, and the spirit was informed that he had lost. 



Klmat, lightning, came and demanded a drink, which was given. 

 As he is usually considered as a dog, the writer inquired why he had 

 appeared as a man, but was rewarded only by a shrug of the shoulders 

 and the word — kadauyan ("custom"). 



1 This raft is the Taltalabong, and is intended for the sons and servants of 

 Kadaklan. 



2 It is customary to place a jar of basi under or near the house, so that 

 Kadaklan may drink, before he reaches the function. This offering had been 

 neglected, hence his complaint. 



