134 COLE. 



Each 3'ear when the constellation balatik ^^ appears in the sky a human 

 sacrifice should be held in honor of the two patron spirits of the magani.^^ 

 This should be done regardless of good or bad times, but anj' person who 

 has been troubled by evil spirits during the year, or any family in which 

 a death has occurred, may have a part in the sacrifice by making a small 

 payment to the datu. who is furnishing the victim. 



On the appointed day people gather from near and far to witness the 

 ceremony. The slave is tied, as before described, and the datu directs 

 the spear so that it will enter the body Just below the right arm. All 

 persons who have purchased a part in the sacrifice may take hold of the 

 Sf)ear and at a given signal it is thrust through the body of the victim, 

 the magani who is willing to pay the highest price for the honor' then 

 cuts the body in two with his fighting knife, after which it is buiied. 



At the sacrifice which took place at Talum in December, 1907, parts 

 of the body were presented to certain guests and were carried away. 

 However, this does not seem to be the general custom. No part of the 

 corpse is eaten or tasted at this time, but warriors sometimes eat portions 

 of the livers of brave enemies, thinking thus to gain in valor. 



A short time after this oflEering a great ceremony known as ginem is 

 held.^^ During its progi'ess two festooned poles are raised by the magani, 

 who afterwards gather around them and one by one confess to the spirits, 

 Mandarangan and Darago, all their warlike deeds; the number of lives 

 they have taken; the slaves captured: and in short all that entitles them 

 to be known as magani. 



Ofl:erings are provided for other sijirits in another part of the house, 

 but the ceremony is made chiefly to secure the good will of the war deities. 



Other ceremonies are held in honor of the patron spirit of the black- 

 smiths, of the brass workers, and of the weavers. When a field is to be 

 cleared, the first rice planted, and at the time of reaping, the spirits are 

 consulted and offerings are made to them. After all the grain is safely 

 stored a thanlvsgiving feast, rivaling the ginem in importance, is held. 



Severe siclcness is cured by appealing to unseen beings, and those evilly 

 disposed are frequently appeased by the erection of a small shrine, on 

 which offerings are placed. Daily actions are often determined by 

 omens imparted by the birds, and at the critical periods of life the 

 superior beings are always consulted. 



When a birth is expected, the husband summons a mabalian, who at 

 once begins to administer certain medicines calculated to cause an easy 

 deliverv. She spreads out a mat in the center of the floor and on this 



"A constellation which , appears about the middle of December. 



^ Some of the people insist that the sacrifice is partly in honor of Balakat, 

 the spirit who loves blood. , 



'^Datu Anisig of Talum informed the writer that the sacrifice should occur 

 during the first day of th« ginem, just before the festooned poles are raised in 

 the house. 



