THE TING6IAN. 201 



the knees ; beneath this is a girdle of braided grass or rattan to which a 

 clout is fastened. The women seldom wear hats unless at work in the 

 fields, where sunshades large enough to protect the entire body are worn. 

 Frequently, a cloth or dingiua is twisted about the head to protect it 

 from the sun. 



Both men and women blaclcen the teeth with iron salts and tanbark ; 

 and most of the former have tattoo marks on the thigh, hand, or forearm. 

 Ordinarily this is the mark with which the Tinggian brands his animals 

 so that he may easily prove his property. 



The Tinggian has availed himself of the material most easily obtained 

 for house building. Six or eight small logs planted in the ground, 

 form the framework on which the floor supports, sides and beams may 

 be tied or fitted. Closely tied bamboo slits form a floor, and halved 

 bamboos the sides. On the upper frame the builder puts a large mat of 

 coarsely woven bamboo; above this is placed cogon grass, bound down 

 by bamboo strips, and the building is complete. The floor is 4 or 5 feet 

 above the ground and entrance is gained by a bamboo ladder which leads 

 up to an uncovered porch built in front of the door. Inside the door, 

 at the left, one usually finds the stove (three stones sunk in a box of 

 ashes or dirt), or a similar device of clay. Above the fire is suspended 

 a hanger on which are placed dishes and food in order that they may not 

 be disturbed by insects. Along the wall stand a small caldron, the jars 

 for water and rice and the large Chinese jars, the latter as a general rule 

 heirlooms or marriage gifts. These are sometimes used for basi, but 

 more often they contain broken rice, cotton, or small articles. Above the 

 jars is a rack or hanger on which dishes or coconut sliells are placed. At 

 the end of the room a cord supports a variety of clothes, blankets, a 

 woman's switch, and perhaps a man's belt. The sleeping mats either 

 hang here or occupy a rack of their own. Below the cord stand old boxes, 

 secured in early years by trade with the Chinese. In these are the family 

 treasures, valuable beads, coins, blanlcets, ceremonial outfits and so forth. 

 Piled on tlie boxes is a variety of pillows, for no Tinggian house is 

 complete without a number of these. The other house furnishings, con- 

 sisting of a spinning wheel, loom, coconut rasp and a chair or two (these 

 are greatly prized), find space along the other wall. Behind the door, 

 except in the valley towns, stand the man's spear and shield. Above or 

 near the door will be the spirit ofl:ering in tlie form of either a small 

 hanger or a miniature shield fastened against the wall. The center of 

 the floor affords a place for working, eating and sleeping. Carts, tools, 

 and the like are put under the house or in one of the spirit structures 

 near by. This description will cover the majority of Tinggian houses; 

 but buildings with two rooms, one used for cooking, are by no means 

 uncommon and structures, the sides and floors of which are made 

 entirely of carefully hewn planks, are frequently met with. 



A number of small houses and structures erected for the spirits are 



