148 ANNALS NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



Eight large plates of heavy white crockery were prepared with 

 special attention to arrangement and quantity of viands, for they 

 were to be served to the eight most distinguished guests at the 

 Grinum. An ample supply of the kumoan stew was heaped on the 

 plate, and pressed into pyramidal shape; the white food of cocoa- 

 nut and slivered fish was piled beside the stew, and the whole 

 bordered by hits of venison that had been first roasted, and then 

 broiled to a hard crisp. This last-named delicacy appeared only 

 on the plates of the eight elect, of whom I was one, the other 

 seven being datu and other Bagobo of note. 



We all sat on the floor, tightly packed in solid rows, between 

 which the girls made their way and, with the help of a few young 

 men, handed to each of us a leaf-dish or a plate. I failed to note 

 just which were the "distinguished guests," besides myself, who 

 received the special plates, but among them may have been in- 

 eluded Datu Yting of Santa Cruz; the datu of Bansalan; the two 

 brothers of Tonkaling, datu of Sibulan ; Sali, elder brother to Oleng, 

 and Awi. When all were served, Ido called out in a loud voice, 

 "Langun pomankit!" ("Let all eat!") and in reply all the people 

 shouted out in unison, "Mimankid!" ("We will begin to eat.*") 

 There were few words spoken after that until the end of the meal, 

 for we were all well-nigh famished. Swiftly the leaf-dishes were 

 emptied and the plates cleared, as with eager fingers the food was 

 rushed to the mouth. Scarcely had the meal come to a close when 

 the ceremonial offices were resumed. 



The recitation of exploits began. An aged man, wrinkled and 

 gaunt from continued privations, his shriveled skin clinging close 

 to the bones of his famished face, stepped toward the ceremonial 

 bamboos and. clasping a pole with one hand, made a statement 

 before the god of the balek&t, and in the presence of the assem- 

 bled people, to the effect that he had slain a certain number of 

 men during his lifetime. All the Bagobo listened attentively, bur 

 made no comment, or gave sign either of dissent or of applause. 

 It \\:i> Sali. brothei- of Oleng, who was making the recital. Di- 

 rectly lie had finished, another old man came forward, and then 

 another, each grasping a pole, or one of the spears attached to the 

 bamboos, throughout his recitation. No man may lay hold of the 

 bamboos, or of the ceremonial spears, unless he has killed at least 



one man. If any man break this tabu, he will be struck down 



by some terrible illness. 



