44 °^ THE INHABITANTS OF THE 



to the stool, sits on it; the Demauno, or priest, sits 

 on' the ground to his left, and prays first ; after 

 which he gives the Maungy a handful of unboiled 

 rice, which he scatters close to the muchnun- branch, 

 addressing himself to God, to protect him and his 

 dependents, and to be propitious to them, adding a 

 vow to perform and hold this festival annual ly. 

 During the time of praying, the Maungy 's drums are 

 beating, that all within hearing, who are possessed 

 of devils, may run, and pick up the rice to eat : 

 having gathered it all, they are seized, bound, and 

 taken to a fmall distance from the altar, when the 

 buffalo, with ropes on all his legs well secured, is 

 hamstrung by the Maungy, to entertain his barbarous 

 followers, in order that they may be diverted by his 

 struggles and exertions, in forcing him to the muck- 

 man branch, where his head is cut off; and the per- 

 •is possessed of devils, who were bound, are set at 

 liberty, and immediately rush forward to take up 

 the buffalo's blood, and lick it while reeking. 

 When they are supposed to have enough, they are 

 besprinkled with water, which renders them com- 

 pletely exorcised, and they retire to a stream to 

 bathe : the adherent; come forward with their of- 

 ferings of rice, oil, and spirits, and receive a blessing 

 from their chief, who has the buffalo's head dressed, 

 and eats it with the priests and musicians: the 

 hundotie being taken into the house, puts an end to 

 the ceremony of the day. The next morning the 

 adherents assemble to feast on the buffalo and 

 other things which the Maungy furnishes. At the 



ex- 



