BENEDICT, BAGOBO CEBEMONIAL, MAGIC AND MYTH 237 



classes of objects called ikut to weapons, arms and ornaments of 

 metal and of ivory. The interesting point is that the object in 

 question automatically attains a ceremonial value just because it 

 is old. "Cannot sell; it's old," is the nonchalant and final answer 

 to a request for something that is ikut; for the ikut must go to 

 the tambara or to the balektit, or to the parabunnian. Nevertheless, 

 though the god of the field, or the god of the house shrine may 

 claim the bracelet, or the ear-plug, or the shield, the Bagobo may 

 still continue to wear the ornament, or to carry the arm or the 

 weapon, for some time at least, before placing it upon a shrine. 

 There seems to exist a sort of tacit understanding between himself 

 and the divine being that, sooner or later, the precious possession 

 shall pass over to the altar. The question as to whether or not 

 an object has yet become an ikut may not rise into consciousness 

 until an opportunity for sale presents itself. On one occasion, there 

 was some hesitation about selling me a pair of ivory plugs because 

 "the gading was old, and perhaps ready for parabunnian." 



It is tabu to hold the festival of Ginum during the dark fort- 

 night of the moon. 



It is tabu to remove from the Long House any part of the 

 ceremonial apparatus until the close of the celebration of Ginum. 

 This tabu includes articles of food that are brought in for the feast, 

 such as meat and salt, and the prohibition extends even to such 

 small things as fragments of rattan and parts of torches. The night 

 we were stringing biaii nuts on sections of rattan for the illumina- 

 tion, I asked to keep a bit of the rattan for a sample, but my 

 request was promptly denied. They told me that it would be "very 

 bad" to take it until after Ginum. 



It is tabu to cut the end of a ceremonial bamboo that is raised 

 at Ginum. It is better to leave it standing at a slant if it is too 

 long to be put in an upright position. 



In the old men's statement of exploits, it is tabu for any man 

 to give the correct number of the victims he has slain. He must 

 mention only one half the actual number, because if he should give 

 the complete count the great bamboo would split from top to bottom 

 while his hand clasps it. 



It is tabu to continue the celebration of Ginum if an earthquake 

 shock occurs, lest the death of the man who gives the festival 

 follow, and the death of every member of his family as well. 



It is tabu to move toward the north or the west or the east 



