BENEDICT, BAGOBO CEREMONIAL, MAGIC AND MYTH 101 



The womeD bring in quantities of green corn, which they 

 carry in burden baskets on their backs. 

 August 14. First day of the Ginum. Men and women go out with 

 burden baskets for hemp leaves, to make leaf-dishes. Ido starts for 

 the bouse of Kaba, a long distance down the trail, whither he 

 has to go for more cocoanuts. Loda goes to the same place for 

 areca-nuts. The girls cut one another's hair in the style called 

 kalampa ; that is, a fringe of bangs cut into a number of sharp 

 points, and stuck with vegetable glue to forehead and cheeks. 



First night, called Tig-kanayan (The Beginning). The Gin- 

 daya, or ceremonial chant, is formally opened by three young- 

 men : Ayang (a nephew of Oleng's), Bagyu the leper (Ayang's 

 brother), and Saman (a step-son of Oleng's). Tin; beating 

 of agongs and the dancing begin. The sugar cane liquor 

 is brought in, but on this opening night only a small amount 

 is served. Everybody may taste it, but we are permitted 

 to drink only sparingly. We make leaf-dishes, called kinudok : 

 in large numbers , for in them the food is to be served 

 on the last night. The young men sharpen slender sticks 

 of nap-nap, and with these the girls pin up the dishes. They 

 heat slightly over flame or coals each leaf-section, deftly curl 

 the two corners of an end, one over the other, turn up the 

 same edge, and run it through with the pointed thong of nap- 

 nap • a process called tawduk ka <l<iii» (preparing the leaves). 

 T'agong-go and dancing continue through the night, until near 

 dawn. Datu Oleng says that there shall be no sleep for four 

 nights. 

 August 15. Second day. About three hours after sunrise, nine 

 young men go out to hew down young bamboos, and on 

 returning they cut seventy internodal joints for the sek- 

 kadii . or water-flasks, that are to be filled on the last great 

 day. Clusters of areca-nuts are brought in for the ceremonial 

 offices, and for the guests to chew. Miyanda fires the pots. 

 A frame of laya wood is put up; from this the agongs are to 

 be suspended, and on it the textiles and the tankulu are to 

 be displayed. It consists of five smooth white rods, two of which 

 run lengthwise of the house, and three transversely ; they are 

 tied to the large upright timbers, about six feet from the 

 floor. Competitive racing of horses by young men takes place 

 — possibly a mere diversion. 



