400 The Tinguian 



favorably, a ceremony known as Komon or Ubaiya * is held. Each 

 person of the village is assessed a sopa of rice, a bundle of palay, 

 or a small coin with which pigs, basi, and other things necessary, can 

 be purchased. 



Early in the morning of the appointed day, the mediums, ac- 

 companied by many people, go to the guardian stones, oil the head of 

 each, and place a bark band around it. Then having recited a proper 

 diam over a small pig, they slaughter it and scatter its blood mixed 

 with rice among the stones. Likewise they place a dish of basi among 

 them for the use of the spirits. A part of the slain animal is then 

 cooked and eaten, after which all go back to the village. At some ap- 

 pointed place, rice, eggs, betel-nuts, and a large pig have been as- 

 sembled, and to this spot the mediums go to conduct the rite known 

 as Datvak. 2 Before its conclusion a diam is recited over the pig, which 

 is then killed and prepared for food. Meanwhile the chief medium 

 beseeches the supreme being Kadaklan to enter her body. He comes, 

 and after telling the people what must be done to insure the crop, he 

 designates some one man who must, on the following morning, cele- 

 brate Padiam. 



After all the visiting spirits have been given food and drink, a 

 small covered raft (taltalabong) is constructed, and in it are placed 

 a live chick, a cooked rooster, and other articles of food. Four sturdy 

 men carry this to the river and set it afloat, while the people shout and 

 beat on gongs to drive away evil spirits who might wish to steal the 

 raft and its contents. The purpose of this offering is to supply food 

 to any spirits who may be unable to attend the ceremony. 



Early the next morning, the man who has been designated by 

 Kadaklan to perform the PadJam makes ready, at his own expense, 

 a large pig and cooked rice, and carries these to the fields. He must 

 be dressed in striped garments known as ginalit, must carry a head- 

 axe, and wear on his head the cloth band of the medium, beneath 

 which are thrust two igam, that is, chicken feathers notched or deco- 

 rated with bits of colored thread (cf. p. 313). He is accompanied by 

 his wife, attired in a red jacket (sinasdya) and a skirt (pindpa), and 

 by a medium who also wears the igam beneath a headband of sikagf 

 while the townspeople follow behind. Arrived at the field, the medium 



1 The same ceremony may be held in order to stop the rainfall if it is too 

 abundant. 



2 At this time the spirits enter the bodies of the mediums and through them 

 talk with the people. 



3 Lygodium near scandens. 



