BENEDICT, BAGOBO CEBEMONIAL, MAGIC AXD MYTH 81 



of hemp, since the use of hemp (abaca) leaves, rather than of banana, 

 prevails for ceremonial dishes. The shape of this little vessel has 

 some resemblance to the keel of a boat, yet I cannot affirm that 

 this effect is consciously produced. Before I had seen the ceremony, 

 the Bagobo who told me about the kinudok remarked that they 

 looked like boats. The word kinudok, so far as I know, is not 

 etymologically related to any of the terms for native craft. 



Offerings of Manufactured Products. In addition to ceremonial 

 gifts of food, drink and betel, the gods are honored by offerings 

 of more intrinsic value : garments, weapons, ornaments, — new and 

 beautiful, — all of which objects are brought in great quantities 

 by the people, to be laid upon an altar or hung beside it, for a 

 longer or a shorter period according to the type of altar, the 

 occasion, and the nature of the gift. This subject will be discussed 

 in connection with the remarks on altars in the following section. 

 I will here simply call attention to the salient points of interest 

 at this ceremony of laying manufactured objects before unseen 

 beings. First, the spirit or essence of the articles is enjoyed by 

 the gods, and, possibly, becomes their permanent property ; second, 

 the material part of the objects thus dedicated becomes hallowed 

 to such an extent that they may never be sold, or even given 

 away, but must always remain in the possession of the individual 

 owners who placed them on the shrines, — unless, indeed, they are 

 left as permanent offerings, — severe sickness being the penalty 

 for transgression of this rule; third, there is an expectation of large 

 returns from the slight sacrifice made, since the deities who enjoy 

 the gifts are urged, at the same time, to help the worshippers to 

 gain riches or, as they say, "to get things." 



Purification. The ceremonial lavation bearing the name of 

 pamalugu is distinguished by several elements from bathing for 

 purposes of pleasure or for cleanliness, either one of which washings 

 is called padigils. It is on fixed occasions that pamalugu is per- 

 formed, — notably at Ginum and at marriage, — at which times 

 men and women are effused by the priest in a prescribed manner, 

 the water being applied by means of a bunch of green leaves and 

 twigs having a medicinal value. Orientations according to a set 

 form are made by the candidates upon whom the water is poured. 

 While the dominant intention of the rite is unquestionably that of 

 purification, in the sense of expelling disease, the Bagobo recognize 

 other advantages to be gained from the water and the magic greens. 



