"YENG AWN^' 291 



to long sticks, strung on cords, or packed in baskets, affords 

 further amusement. 



The general guests — the people of the nearest villages — 

 will remain till the close of the feast to assist the hosts, and 

 to give further performances of dancing and singing every night. 

 They take their share of the food with the commemorators. 



With their help the amusements are renewed, and on the 

 following morning the big pigs, which were carried in proces- 

 sion, are slaughtered and cut into long strips, some of which, 

 generally the spinal portions, are suspended at the entrance of 

 the houses, as offerings to the evil spirits, and are there allowed 

 to remain until the next celebration of Kana-Awn. Several 

 pieces will also be distributed to friends and relatives. 



Before these pigs are killed it is customary for young men 

 to wrestle with them, and many of them are often so severely 

 gored by the long tusks of the animals that they have to be 

 carried away in litters. 



This portion of the festival is called Yeng Awn — the great 

 boar — for each of the animals which are dedicated to the 

 purpose is looked on as a sacred creature, and is offered as a 

 sacrifice in token of the last head of the family who died. 



From the remaining portions of pork they separate the fatty 

 part and prepare lard from it by pounding it in a wooden mortar 

 and boiling it down in an earthen vessel. This lard is preserved 

 in coconut shells and eaten with meals like butter, A few shells- 

 full are presented to those of their friends who have assisted 

 them. This portion of the ceremony is called Wanaka Kuv 

 (making lard), and with the immediately preceding stage lasts 

 for four or five days. Then commences the ceremony of Kisu ta 

 el pat i, during which all the decorations of the houses are removed, 

 and dancing and singing take place inside. This is done in order 

 to purify the house. 



Next, the practice of Tanang alah (prevention) takes place ; 

 and throughout the day the people busy themselves covering 

 the houses and huts in Elpanani with green coco-palm leaves, to 

 prevent pollution by the disinterred bones of next day's proceed- 



