350 The Tinguian 



the gate of the village, and watch her in silence, while she anoints 

 the head of each stone with oil, and places a new yellow bark band 

 around its "neck." As soon as she finishes, the musicians begin to play 

 vigorously on their gongs and drums, while two old men kill a small 

 pig and collect its blood. The carcass is brought to the medium, who 

 places it beside four dishes, one filled with basi, one with salt, one 

 with vinegar, and the last with the pig's blood. She drinks of the 

 liquor, dips her fingers in coconut oil, and strokes the pig's stomach, 

 after which it is cut up in the usual manner. The liver is studied 

 eagerly, for by the markings on it the fate of the host can be foretold. 

 Should the signs be unfavorable, a chicken will be sacrificed in the 

 hope that the additional offering may induce the spirits to change their 

 verdict; but if the omens are good, the ceremony proceeds without a 

 halt. The intestines and some pieces of meat are placed on the ansi- 

 silit, — a small spirit frame or table near the stones. The host, 

 who has been watching from a distance, is summoned, and is given a 

 piece of the flesh to take back to his house for food, and then the rest 

 of the meat is cooked and served to the guests. But before anything 

 is eaten, the medium places prepared betel-nuts before the stones, mixes 

 blood with rice, and scatters it broadcast, meanwhile calling the spirits 

 from near and far to come and eat, and to go with her to the village, 

 where she is to continue the ceremony. As the company approaches the 

 balaua, the musicians begin to beat on their gongs, while women in the 

 yard pound rice in ceremonial fashion. When they have finished, the 

 family goes up into the balaua and dances to the music of the gongs 

 until the medium bids them stop. 



The pig which has been lying in front of the sogayob, and an- 

 other from the yard, are killed, and are laid side by side near to the 

 balaua in a spot indicated by the medium. She places a bamboo tube 

 of water between them, on their backs she lays several pieces of pre- 

 pared betel-nut, then strokes their sides with oiled fingers. Her next 

 duty is to sprinkle basi from the jar onto the ground with a small 

 head-axe, at the same time calling the spirits to come and drink. 

 (Plate XXXIV). A bundle which has been lying beside the animals 

 is opened, and from it the medium takes a red and yellow headband 

 with chicken feathers attached, and boar's tusk armlets. These she 

 places "on the host, then hands him a blanket. Holding the latter in 

 his outstretched arms, as he would do if dancing tadek, he squats 

 repeatedly over a dish of water. As he finishes, the medium takes the 

 tube of water from between the pigs, and pouring a little of it on her 

 hand, she applies it to the abdomen of the man's wife and children. 



