The Tinguian eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 351 pages of information about The Tinguian.

The Tinguian eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 351 pages of information about The Tinguian.

Idadaya, who lives in the east (daya), is a powerful spirit who attends the Pala-an ceremony.  He rides a horse, which he ties to the little structure built during the rite.  Ten grand-children reside with him, and they all wear in their hair the igam (notched feathers attached to a stick).  When these feathers lose their lustre, they can only be restored by the celebration of Pala-an(cf. p. 328).  Hence the owners cause some mortal, who has the right to conduct the ceremony, to become ill, and then inform him through the mediums as to the cause of his affliction.  The names of the grand-children are as follows:  Pensipenondosan, Logosen, Bakoden, Bing-gasan, Bakdangan, Giligen, Idomalo, Agkabkabayo, Ebloyan, and Agtabtabokal.

Kaiba-an is the spirit who lives in the little house or saloko in the rice-fields, and who protects the growing crops.  Offerings are made to him, when a new field is constructed, when the rice is transplanted, and at harvest time.  “The ground which grows” (that is the nest of the white ant) is said to be made by him.

Makaboteng, also called Sanadan, is the guardian of the deer and wild hogs.  His good will is necessary if the dogs are to be successful in the chase; consequently he is summoned to many ceremonies, where he receives the most courteous treatment.  In one ceremony he declared, “I can become the sunset sky.”

Sabian or Isabian is the guardian of the dogs.

Bisangolan ("the place of opening or tearing”) is a gigantic spirit, who lives near the river, and who in time of floods uses his head-axe and walking-stick to keep the logs and refuse from jamming.  “He is very old, like the world, and he pulls out his beard with his finger nails and his knife.  His seat is a wooden plate.”  He appears in the Dawak, Tangpap, and Sayang ceremonies, holding a rooster and a bundle of rice.  In Ba-ak he is called Ibalinsogoan, and is the first spirit summoned in Dawak.

Kakalonan, also known as Boboyonan, is the one who makes friends, and who learns the source of troubles.  When summoned at the beginning of a ceremony, he tells what needs to be done, in order to insure the results desired.

Sasagangen, sometimes called Ingalit, are spirits whose business it is to take heads and put them on the saga or in the saloko (cf. p. 310).  Headache is caused by them.

Abat are numerous spirits who cause sore feet and headache. Salono and bawi are built for them (cf. pp. 309-310).  The spirits of Ibal, who live in Daem, are responsible for most sickness among children, but they are easily appeased with blood and rice.  The Ibal ceremony is held for them.

Maganawan, who lives in Nagbotobotan ("the place near which the rivers empty into the hole, where all streams go”) is one of the spirits, called in the Sangasang ceremony, and for whom the blood of the rooster mixed with rice is put into the saloko, which stands in the yard.

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The Tinguian from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.