BENEDICT, BAGOBO CEREMONIAL, MAGIC AND MYTH <M 



significance It is put ujt in honor of the all-knowing god whose 

 name is Tolas ka Balekat, and it is before this altar, not before 

 the tambara or tigyama, that the culminating act of the Ginum is 

 performed. At this time an accessory element is added which 

 heightens the ceremonial value of this altar, and temporarily extends 

 its capacity as a receptacle for offerings. On the last day of the 

 festival, a broad shelf of wood is swung from an elevated part of 

 the roof by rattan hangers, in a position directly in front of the 

 balekat. This shelf bears the name of tagudn lea balekat, its 

 function being to hold, for a short period, the sacrificial food and 

 the sugar cane liquor that are offered to divine beings. This 

 temporary rotable is so closely associated with the main altar that 

 it is not unusual to hear it called simply balekat, and whatever is 

 placed there is said to be put on the balekat itself. 



In the matter of offerings, the situation is much the same as 

 with the tambara. One class of gifts consists of very old ornaments 

 and weapons that are rarely offered, but, once dedicated, can never 

 be taken back; the other class includes objects of intrinsic value 

 and newly-made articles that are hung around the balekat for one 

 night, particularly on ceremonial occasions, and then retained always 

 in the possession of those who offered them. It is said that if a 

 man should sell a tankulu that has hung on the balekat, "he would 

 be dead," and the case is the same with other such gifts. An 

 interesting problem is suggested as to whether the balekat was the 

 primitive shrine of the home, and was later utilized for group festivals ; 

 or whether we should take it to be primarily a ceremonial altar 

 and secondarily a family shrine. 



Agong-altars, called Sonaran. At Ginum and at the harvest 

 festival, a temporary altar bearing the name of sonaran plays an 

 important part. Jt is formed by one large agong, or by several of 

 those instruments placed together on the floor, on which is piled 

 the rich collection of objects that are brought at the rite of Sonar, 

 as offerings to Mandarangan and to the anito. At this function, 

 tin' sugar cane liquor is ceremonially drunk, and an interview with 

 the gods through a priestess takes place. On one occasion, however, 

 1 have seen an agong in use as the altar for the sacrificial rites 

 that occur on the last night of the festival. All fine textiles, 

 swords, knives and ornaments, which are heaped in ample quantities 

 on the agong-altar. are returned, at the conclusion of a ceremony, 

 to the individuals who brought them, to be kept always in their 



