104 
BIRDS NESTS KARANG BOLLONG. 
(Zedong and ornamented with some silk and other clodjs. Nobody 
but this woman is allowed to do this. Every Thursday curing the 
.time of the collection this bed is cxcancd and offerings are made 
to it. v 
After everything has been made ready too small lamps ore lighted 
and the small bambu bowls with flowers, fruit, *&c., arc placed with 
particular marks of honour by the Tukan Gedong before the bed on a 
small couch made for the purpose. At the same time she says in high 
Javanese, as if addressing some distinguished person “ Ev order 
of Mijnheer (meaning the overseer) 1 here bring wherewithal for 
you alone to cat.’ 1 After this speech the Tukan Gedong herself 
answers a Yes, mother Tukan Gedong, say to father mijnheer (the 
officer) that I return my thanks for the food which he has sent me.” 
After this ceremony is finished the Tdkarsg Gedong remains 
sitting on the bed, and further asks Nyai Haiti Ilidu! (who is sup¬ 
posed to be present in the bed) “ if it be agreeable to her that the 
birds nests should be collected and it it shall take place without mis¬ 
chance”, which request is ordinarily answered with « yes” (ingle). 
Paring this time the wayang is kept up till the next morning. 
The following looming (Saturday) the heads of the cliffs I>a- 
har and Gedie go, with the persons whom they have employed, to 
their goas, with the ladders which have been prepared some days be¬ 
fore, and accompanied by the Gcdcks and benlonos for e«cn cull m 
order to make further preparations for a commencement; while dur¬ 
ing all the day the toppeng play is maintained. 
The cliffs WaSo and Nogosarie are visited eight days later, and 
Medjiengklek two days after that. I have enquired what could 
be the reason for visiting these Cliffs latest but no explanation could 
be given to me. In the evening, the toppeng-play being finished, 
the so called Karang Bollong feast begins, on which occasion the garni- 
lang and two or three dancing girls make themselves heard. At the 
first seven acts ^ic dancing girls turn their heads towards the bn as. 
nest warehouse in honour of Nyai Ratu Kidul, and it is a ge¬ 
neral custom in the district of Karang Bollong wherever a least 
is given to dedicate the first seven songs to the honoui ot Nyai Ratq 
Kidul. So soon as the wedons, mantra, writer, the head of toe 
cliffs with their people, and some heads of the dcssas, cue met, they 
sit down on a mat in a circle to dine. The writer places himscll at 
