294 A NATURALIST IN CELEBES ch. xi 



wine, a knife to hack the tree, a Httle ladder to climb it, 

 and arms to resist any head-hunting savages who may be 

 lurking in the forest. The walian, his father, and one or 

 two friends or relations take him to a sagoweer tree they 

 have found in the forest, and the ceremony begins. The 

 priest hangs the bamboo on the tree, places the ladder 

 against it, and lifts the child three times, making his feet 

 touch the steps of the ladder. He then gives the child 

 back to his father, and runs through the names of the 

 gods,- and finally the whole party returns to the village, where 

 a fosso is given in honour of the occasion. 



The little Minahassa maiden does not learn the makehet, 

 but nevertheless a ceremony is held for the girls of about 

 the same age ■at which they are initiated into their household 

 duties (52). 



The next incident in the life of the young Minahasser 

 is the teeteken or circumcision. The operation is performed 

 in the depths of the forest by the father and uncle, but is 

 not made the occasion for a feast (100). 



Of courtship and marriage I have already spoken, so 

 that the only remaining event of importance in the life of 

 these savages is, to use a hibernicism, death and burial. 

 But perhaps it would be as well, before dealing with funeral 

 customs, to mention a few facts concerning the native 

 treatment of disease. 



Most diseases are, as I have indicated already, attributed 

 to demons or sakits, and the cure for them depends upon 

 the success the walian has in fighting the sakits and calling 

 back the true spirit of the patient. Many others are 

 treated with decoctions and infusions of roots, leaves, and 

 fruits of plants, some of which have undoubtedly consider- 

 able therapeutical value, but others are of little or no use 

 at all. 



Since the settlement of Europeans in the country, 



