Evil magic, known as gamot ("poison”) is also extensively used.  A little dust taken from the footprint of a foe, a bit of clothing, or an article recently handled by him, is placed in a dish of water, and is stirred violently.  Soon the victim begins to feel the effect of this treatment, and within a few hours becomes insane.  To make him lame, it is only necessary to place poison on articles recently touched by his feet.  Death or impotency can be produced by placing poison on his garments.  A fly is named after a person, and is placed in a bamboo tube.  This is set near the fire, and in a short time the victim of the plot is seized with fever.  Likewise magical chants and dances, carried on beneath a house, may bring death to all the people of the dwelling.

A combination of true poisoning and magical practice is also found.  To cause consumption or some wasting disease, a snake is killed, and its head cut off; then the body is hung up, and the liquor coming from the decomposing flesh is caught in a shell cup.  This fluid is introduced into the victim’s food, or some of his belongings are treated with it.  If the subject dies, his relatives may get revenge on the poisoner.  This is accomplished by taking out the heart of a pig and inserting it in the mouth or stomach of the victim.  This must be done under the cover of darkness, and the corpse be buried at once.  A high bamboo fence is then built around the grave, so that no one can reach it.  The person responsible for the death will fall ill at once, and will die unless he is able to secure one of the victim’s garments or dirt from the grave.

The actual introduction of poison in food and drink is thought to be very common.  The writer attended one ceremony following which a large number of the guests fell sick.  The illness was ascribed to magic poisoning, yet it was evident that the cause was over-indulgence in fresh pork by people, who for months had eaten little if any meat.

Omens.—­The ability to foretell future events by the flight or calls of birds, actions of animals, by the condition of the liver and gall of sacrificed pigs, or by the movements of certain articles under the questioning of a medium, is an undoubted fact in this society.

A small bird known as labeg, is the messenger of the spirits, who control the Bakid and Sangasang ceremonies.  When this bird enters the house, it is caught at once, its feathers are oiled; beads are attached to its feet, and it is released with the promise that the ceremony will be celebrated at once.  This bird accompanies the warriors, and warns or encourages them with its calls.  If it flies across their path from right to left, all is well; but if it comes from the left, they must return home, or trouble will befall the party.

The spirits of Sangasang make use of other birds and animals to warn the builders of a house, if the location selected does not please them.  All the Tinguian know that the arrival of snakes, big lizards, deer, or wild hogs at the site of a new house is a bad sign.