XVIII CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH i6i 



Then the father, or some other man, after killing 

 a chick or young pig, lays the image on the mat 

 before the child, passes one of the rattan strips 

 beneath it, and, holding the image firmly with a 

 big toe on each end of it, pulls the strip rapidly to 

 and fro, until it is made hot by its friction against 

 the image, and smoke begins to rise. While this 

 goes on, the same man, or another, pours out a stream 

 of words addressed to Laki Pesong, the sense of 

 which is a supplication for an answer to the question, 

 *' Is this a suitable name ? Will he be prosperous 

 under it? Will he enjoy a long Hfe ? " etc. He 

 continues the sawing movement until the strip 

 breaks in two. The two pieces are then compared ; 

 if they are of unequal length, this result is regarded 

 as expressing the approval of the proposed name by 

 Laki Pesong; if they are of approximately equal 

 length, the god is held to have expressed his dis- 

 approval, and another name is proposed and sub- 

 mitted to the same test. If disapproval is thus 

 expressed several times, the naming of the child is 

 postponed to another occasion (Pis. 53, 168). 



If a name has been approved, the image, together 

 with the knife used in killing the pig or chicken, is 

 wrapped up in the small mat ; the bundle, which, as 

 well as the ceremony, is called pusa, is thrust behind 

 the rafters of the gallery opposite the door of the 

 child's room, to remain there as a memento of the 

 naming. 



When the naming is accomplished a general 

 feast begins, the parents of the newly named children 

 contributing the chief part of the good things ; and a 

 number of specially invited guests may participate. 



The name so given at this ceremony is borne 

 until the child becomes a parent ; when he resigns 

 it in favour of the name given to his child with the 

 title Taman ( = father) prefixed (or Tinan in the case 

 of a woman). 



