HEAD-HUNTING 255 



hung from the beam at the head of the ladder, and the 

 cloths which were bestowed upon the victors are returned 

 to the women. The heads are left hanging, while for the 

 festivities connected with their arrival a hut, called man- 

 gosang, is constructed, consisting of an airy shelter made 

 of two rows of bamboo stalks supported against each other, 

 and profusely adorned with the inevitable wood shav- 

 ings. 



The head-hunters, who must take their food apart 

 from their associates and in the presence of the heads, 

 now bring water from the river to boil rice, in bamboo, 

 outside on the gallery. When the cooking is finished the 

 heads are brought to take part in the meal, being hung 

 near the place where the men are to eat and about half a 

 metre above the floor, to be out of reach of dogs. A pinch 

 of rice is put into the hole at the top of the skull and the 

 head is addressed in the following words: "Eat this rice 

 first. Don't be angry. Take care of me. Make this 

 body of mine well." During the period of restrictions 

 imposed on the hunters the heads remain at the same 

 place, sharing the meals as described. 



For twelve days the hunters do no work and refrain 

 from eating meat, vegetables, fish, salt, and red pepper, 

 rice being the only permissible food. They are obliged 

 to take their food on the gallery, and those who have never 

 been on such expeditions before must also sleep there 

 during that time. A man who has taken part three or 

 more times may join his wife, but he must take his meals 

 on the gallery. When twelve days have passed no more 

 food is given to the heads, which are hung on the beam 



