BENEDICT, BAGOBO CEREMONIAL, MAGIC AXD MYTH 145 



many. This and the later dances were all performed in the same 

 part of the house in which the bamboo poles stood, and in which 

 the altar was situated. They danced on the restricted portions of 

 the floor on each side of the two bamboos. This initial dance of 

 the men was followed by a second ceremonial chant. 



At this Ginum, there were eleven agongs suspended from the laya 

 rods. Four of uniform size formed the upper row, and each was 

 named Matio. Just below them hung four others of uniform size, 

 but somewhat larger than the four above them. The agongs in 

 this lower row were called, from left to right, respectively, Tarabun, 

 Mabagong, Mambur, Mabagong. The eight instruments just mentioned 

 were all played by one expert musician, who beat tap-tap while 

 dancing in the customary manner of an agong-player. Suspended 

 just below the eight was another agong considerably larger in cir- 

 cumference, but of shallow convexity. It bore the name of Inagongan, 

 and a woman performed on it, beating an accompaniment to the 

 theme of the leading musician. Beside the Inagongan, hung a very 

 small instrument called Bandiran, on which a child rang the tones. 

 Some little distance to the right of the ten instruments just named, 

 was suspended an agong of exceedingly large size that was tapped 

 by a man as an accompaniment, and that bore the same name as 

 the woman's instrument — Inagongan. One or two drums, each 

 beaten by two persons, a man and a woman, assisted the eleven 

 agongs at every set performance. 



Now came the event that had been looked forward to with keen 

 anticipation by the weary people — the general drinking of the 

 fragrant and delicious balabba. So little food had been served for 

 the preceding twenty-four hours that it seemed more like a day of 

 abstinence than a festival, for when the Bagobo are preparing for 

 a great celebration, they pay no attention to bodily wants. Many 

 of the guests had tramped a long distance over the mountains and 

 were very tired; the refreshment of this first drink of balabba re- 

 lieved the tension greatly. When the liquor was served, separate 

 cups were supplied to the special guests, but a few large bowls 

 sufficed for the majority of the company, who passed the same 

 bowl from hand to hand. As fast as emptied, the bowls were re- 

 filled from the large metal jar, or from the fourth garong of 

 bamboo. 



Three successive periods of chanting Gindaya succeeded the 

 drinking. Then followed the beating of agongs in dance measure, 



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