VENTURELLO] MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF TAGBANUAS bao 
When everything is ready he will touch some empty metal vessel 
in order to produce sound, calling and beseeching the departed souls 
of the family of the patient to help him to cure the afflicted one. 
The medicine having been applied, the patient and the house in 
which he dwells is quarantined against those who are not of the © 
family and who have no part in the quendar or tarec. The quaran- 
tine may be a matter of one or two weeks according to the 
prescription of the babailan. In order that no one may be able to 
feign ignorance, he will place upon the door of the house small 
leaves of trees which they recognize and close the entrances to the 
house with cords fastened to small posts. The dance is continued 
every night. There are other infirmities known as “ pintas ’’ among 
them which are attributed to witchcraft and which the babailan can 
not cure. These evils are cured by particular persons or sooth- 
sayers. The man takes a cow and measures it by means of his arm. 
Upon the right side of the cow he places a small ball of wax. Be- 
fore he again measures the animal he asks this question: 
“Who has given this infirmity to such an one?” If the ball has 
not moved from its place he will repeat the question. 
“Was it Jack?” If, after the repetition of the act, the ball has 
moved or fallen, then it signifies that Jack is the author of the evil 
with which the sick man is afflicted and whom Jack will be obliged 
to cure, being severely threatened by the family of the afflicted one. 
Usually the blind credulity of this people will effect a cure. If the 
babailan cures the afflicted one, he will receive his customary fee, 
which usually consists of various objects of value, the number of 
which is mutually settled between him and the family. If the family 
are rich, they are accustomed to celebrate with a fiesta the successful 
restoration of health. If, on the contrary, the man dies because of 
his ailments, the babailan receives naught for his labor. 
When a death occurs the entire family break forth into weeping ; 
though the grief may be lessened by the advice of the babailan who 
encourages them to resign themselves to the will of Diwata. If 
the death be that of a rich noble, the family and the babailan will 
immediately spread abroad the sad news to all the people. Should 
there be any near relatives living in distant rancherias, notices are 
also sent to these and they are informed that the body will not be 
interred without their personal assistance. If the deceased be the 
masicampo, or superior chief himself not only are his own relatives 
invited who live in distant parts, but also all the local chiefs and 
nobles of all the rancherias under his command. ° During the long 
