THE TINGGIAN. 207 



narrow strip of cloth. After much debating the middle of the pig is 

 decided upon and each seizes a leg with the left hand. The animal is 

 raised from the floor and with the axes in their right hands they cut 

 it in two. In this way the mortals pay the spirits for their share in the 

 child and henceforth they have no claim on it. The women bring basi 

 and the spirit drinks with the old man to cement the friendship. Other 

 spirits are summoned until nightfall. 



Wlren the delivery takes place, the mother is attended by one or two 

 women who Imead the abdomen and assist in the removal of the child. 

 The afterbirth is put in a Jar and is intrusted to an old man who must 

 exercise the greatest care in his mission and in his choice of a place for 

 its disposal. Should he squint while the Jar is in his keeping, the 

 child will be thus affected. A book or letter inserted in the- Jar will 

 cause the child to be very wise; while a few leaves of bamboo make the 

 child grow like that lusty plant. If the afterbirth is hung in a tree 

 near the trail, the infant will not be afraid; if hung in the Jungle, he 

 may fear men, but will become an excellent hunter. Often the river is 

 chosen or the Jar is buried: the former will result in an excellent 

 swimmer and fisherman; but it is ill-fortune for the baby if the pot is 

 put in the ground, for he will be afraid to climb a tree or to ascend a 

 mountain. 



Very soon after birth the child is washed and placed on an inverted 

 rice winnower and an old man or woman gives it its name. The win- 

 nower is raised a few inches above the floor and the woman asks the 

 child its name, then drops the winnower. Again she raises it, pro- 

 nounces the name, and drops it. A third time it is raised and the child 

 is advised to be obedient and industrious; a third time it falls, and the 

 naming is complete. A Tinggian child is always named after a dead 

 ancestor ; often it receives two names, one of a relative on the father's and 

 one on the mother's side. A third name, that of the day or month or one 

 commemorating some occurrence at the birth, is frequently given. 



Marriages are contracted for very young children. When the youth's 

 parents have decided on a suitable girl, they send a relative who is able 

 to "talk much and well" to broach the subject to the maiden's people. 

 It is then his duty to explain the many desirable qualities of the youth 

 and his family and to get consent for the union. If the suit is favored, 

 a bead is fastened on the girl's wrist, and arrangements are made for 

 the pakalon. This is a function to which the friends of the contracting 

 parties are invited; food and basi are prepared and on the appointed 

 day the townspeople and guests from neighboring villages come in num- 

 bers. The relatives form a circle to talk over the price which the girl 

 should bring, and after a discussion often lasting nearly an entire day, 

 a list is prepared. The payment usually consists of horses, carabaos. 

 Jars, blankets and a small amount of money. A portion of this is paid 



