BEX EDICT, BAGOBO CEREMONIAL, MAGIC AND MYTH 121 



spoke one word, "Sakaa" (I, myself). Then, with slow steps and an 

 attitude in which high dignity and a reverential sense of his sacred 

 office were peculiarly blended, the old man advanced to the edge 

 of the water and, in a clear voice, summoned the gods dear to the 

 Bagobo — the beloved Tigyama, protector of man, and Pamulak 

 Manobo, creator of all nature. It was an impressive moment when 

 the aged chief stood there, alone, still, beside a massive boulder, 

 in the silence of the mountains with the cool refreshment of morning 

 touching the air, his children and grandchildren grouped, in perfect 

 hush, upon the banks. Feeble and spent, he yet stood erect, and 

 strong in spirit, his face expressing a grave sweetness and purity, 

 as he called upon the ancient gods of the tribe. 



""Where are you, Tigyama? and where are you, Pamulak Manobo ? 

 Come near to us for a little time, while I perform the ceremony 

 of Pamalugu ; while I pour water over the men and over the women, 

 to keep them in health and strength. This prayer and this Pama- 

 lugu I offer, begging you to remove from our bodies the evil 

 sickness. Show your love for us ; keep us from disease during the 

 festival of Ginum , and make us well all of the time." 



As soon as Oleng ceased speaking, his wife, Singan, stepped 

 down into the bed of the stream and stood in the shallow water, 

 with the two bunches of medicine in her arms. The people had 

 dispersed themselves informally, and were sitting about on the great 

 stones, waiting for their turns. Five young men, sons of Datu Oleng, 

 were the first to present themselves for the rite. They went down 

 together and stood before Singan in the water, or sat on the stones 

 on the west side of the stream. Those who had the tutub or tan- 

 kulu on their heads removed it, so that their black hair, long and 

 luxuriant, hung down over their shoulders and around their faces, 

 as they stood with bowed heads before Singan, and received the 

 pamalugu at her hands. The priestess held one of the bunches of 

 leafy medicine in the running brook, and drew it out dripping. 

 Then, holding it over the young men, she let the water fall in a 

 stream upon their heads, whence it ran clown over necks and 

 shoulders and backs. Again she dipped the sagmo into the water, 

 and again allowed the magic stream to pour down on their bodies ; 

 and then again, until the effusion had been performed nine times. 

 She held the bunch of greens in a vertical position, with the stems 

 downward, so that the water from leaves and twigs collected into 

 one stream ; or she held the bunch horizontally, but in either case 



