THE TINGGIAN. 209 



a valuable jar which he gives to his parents-in-law; and from that time 

 on he must not call them nor any near relative of the girl by name, or he 

 will have boils and the first child born will be crazy. He also jjresents 

 them with ten jDesos which is part of the agreed price. The girl's people 

 have prepared a dish of rice and a shell cup of water, and the couple 

 sit on opposite sides of these on the floor. The boy's mother puts two 

 beads into the water and each, of the couple take a drink fi-om it. 

 Great care is taken not to shake the cup, or they will get dizzy, and when 

 old their heads and hands will shake. The two beads always go to the 

 bottom of the cup together, and so the couple will not part; the cold 

 water keeps them from getting angry. After they have drunk, each 

 takes a handful of rice and squeezes it firmly into a ball. The girl 

 drops hers through, the bamboo floor as an offering to the spirits, but the 

 boy tosses his into the air. If the ball breaks, it is a bad sign and the 

 couple are apt to part. Often the marriage is deferred and tried again 

 a few days later; repeated breaking of the ball would cause an annul- 

 ment of the agreement. If the ball rolls, it is not a good sign as they 

 may be imfaithful. Should it go under the boxes and jars, their 

 children will die. If the ball remains intact and does not roll, the signs 

 are most favorable and all will go well. If at any time during the pro- 

 ceedings a thing should fall or be broken in the house, the ceremony 

 is stopped at once; to proceed that night is to court trouble, but a few 

 days later they will try again. The guests now depart. ISTo food nor 

 hasi is given nor is there any kind of a celebration. For two days the 

 couple are subject to strict taboos, a violation of which would cause 

 disaster for themselves or their children. The month following the 

 marriage they live at the girl's house, after which they go to the home 

 prepared by the boy or to that of his parents. They are accompanied 

 by the groom's mother and go very early in the morning so that the birds 

 can not give a bad sign. The girl carries her mat, blankets, and two 

 pillows with her. Before she can eat of her husband's rice, he must give 

 her a string of beads or she will be sick: she may not open his rice 

 granary until a like present has been given or the spirit of the granary 

 will make her blind. 



If at any time the relatives of the girl have reason to doubt the hus- 

 band's affection they may make nagltakalonan. They carry a pig, jar 

 and a number of baskets to the house and spread them on the floor. In 

 order to prove his love, the man must exchange money and presents for 

 them, after which a pig is killed and eaten by the guests. Should the 

 old men decide that there was no cause for doubt, the relatives must 

 pay the cost of the gathering and the husband does not exchange any- 

 thing with them. No trace of the clan system is to be found, but 

 marriage is prohibited between blood relatives. 



