BENEDICT, BAGOBO CEREMONIAL, MAGIC AND MYTH 129 



U I am come this noon because you summoned me by the gifts 

 -on the agongs. Now let all the people upon whom water was 

 poured from the sagmo, at the Pamalugu , put bells and brass 

 bracelets into the agong with the sagmo." 



Rites with balabba. The ceremonial drink of fermented sugar 

 cane, barely tasted on the first night of the festival, is drunk freely 

 on the third day; and it is at this stage of the Sonar that the first 

 deep draught of balabba is taken. A portion is offered to the gods 

 as their right, before the people drink. 



While Singan was muttering incoherent words, Ido brought a 

 long bamboo flask, and from it poured out balabba, until he had 

 filled four large bowls, and his own little cup, with the thick, rich, 

 brown liquid. A delicious aroma came from the bowls, as it were 

 of boiling molasses mingled with old rum. Then the people began 

 to be eager for the close of the worship, and for the end of the 

 abstinence of the long morning; but they sat waiting in their cus- 

 tomary attitude of patience. Ido had placed the four bowls in a 

 row parallel with the agongs, but on the other side from the tam- 

 bara. His own little cup he moved into several different positions, 

 placing it, first, at the north end of the bowls, then at the south 

 end, again, in the middle, and finally back at the north end again. 



As soon as Singan had lapsed into silence, Oleng came down 

 from his perch, and placed himself in front of the bowls of liquor, 

 so that he sat facing east, and also facing the agongs. Ido was at his 

 left, and he motioned me to a place between Oleng and himself 

 for this, the most worshipful act of the Sonar. The Long House 

 was full of Bagobo, standing, or sitting, as near the agongs as they 

 could place themselves, without intruding into the reserved positions. 

 Datu Yting was also at the altar, near the other datu. 



Oleng, now acting as priest, touched the rim of the bowl of balabba 

 that stood farthest to his right, and said: "All of this, anito, is yours, 

 for this year we are making our Ginum; and when all of you, anito, 

 have drunk from this bowl of balabba, then we will drink the rest. 1 ' 



A spray of a fragrant plant called manangid had been laid beside 

 the bowls, and he took this spray and stirred it three times around 

 in the bowl. Then, with the tips of his fingers, he touched the rim 

 of the second bowl, as he had touched the first, and said, addressing 

 the agong-altar : "Sonaran, 205 the balabba in this bowl is yours. 



r 



,ui Oleng was doubtless addressing the spirit resident in the agongs. The agongs 



functioning as an altar are called sonaran, while the name of the ceremony is Sonar. 



9 



