392 The Tinguian 



the Tinguian belt, although their use is now fairly common among 

 the Ilocano. 



It requires a month or six weeks to make ready the fields, and 

 in the meantime the rice in the seed beds has grown to a height of 

 twelve or fourteen inches. The shoots are then pulled up by the roots, 

 are tied into bundles, and the tops are cut off (Plate LI). The 

 bundles are distributed about the fields at convenient distances, and 

 the workers then transplant the young rice — three or four together — 

 in the soft ooze, using the thumb and fore-finger of the right hand 

 for that purpose (Plate LII). The preparation of the field is looked 

 after by the men and boys, and oftentimes they aid in transplanting, 

 but the latter is considered to be women's work, and is generally left 

 to them. 



The rice is set so thickly that when a plot is planted it presents to 

 the eye a solid mass of green. It is hard to imagine a more beautiful 

 sight than to look down on these fields, which rise in wave above 

 wave of brilliant green, until at last they give way to the yellower 

 billows of cogon grass which cover the mountain slopes. 



After the transplanting, the grain needs constant attention ; at 

 first, to keep it properly weeded and flooded ; later, to protect it from 

 animals and birds. Hence many workers are always in the fields, but it 

 is, nevertheless, the happy time for the people, and if one approaches 

 a group of workers unawares, he will hear one or more singing the 

 daleng, a song in which they compliment or chide the other workers, 

 or relate some incident of the hunt or of village life. Toward midday 

 little groups will gather in the field shelters to partake of their lunches, 

 to smoke, or to rest, and usually in such a gathering will be a good 

 story-teller who amuses with fables, or tales of adventure. 1 



When the rice begins to mature, an even stricter watch must be 

 kept, for, in addition to its other enemies, the rice birds 2 now seek 

 to feed on the crop and, while they are small in size, they often appear 

 in such numbers that they work great havoc. 



The usual device employed in frightening both birds and animals 

 is a bamboo pole cut into strips at the top, so that, as it is shaken, these 

 strike together, producing a great clatter. Many of these poles are 

 planted, and then all are connected by means of rattan lines which 

 finally lead to the little watch house. Here a man or boy sits and oc- 

 casionally gives the lines a sudden jerk, which sets up a clapping over 



1 See Traditions of the Tinguian, this volume, No. i, pp. 195, et seq. 

 2 Munia jagori (martens). Locally known as tikgi. 



