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.

Sagang:  Sharpened bamboo poles about eight feet in length on which the skulls of enemies were formerly exhibited.  The pointed end was pushed through the foramen magnum, and the pole was then planted near the gate of the town.

Saloko, also called Salokang and Sabut:  This is a bamboo pole about ten feet long, one end of which is split into several strips; these are forced apart, and are interwoven with other strips, thus forming a sort of basket.  When such a pole is erected near to a house, or at the gate of the town, it is generally in connection with a ceremony made to cure headache.  It is also used in the fields as a dwelling place for the spirit Kaiba-an (Plate XXV).

The Saloko ceremony and the diam, which accompanies it, seem to indicate that this pole originated in connection with head-hunting; and its presence in the fields gives a hint that in former times a head-hunt may have been a necessary preliminary to the rice-planting.

Sogayob:  A covered porch, which is built along one side of the house during the Sayang ceremony.  In it hang the vines and other articles, used by the female dancers in one part of the rite.  A portion of one of the slaughtered pigs is placed here for the spirits of Bangued.  In Lumaba the Sogayob is built alone as a part of a one-day ceremony; while in Sallapadan it follows Kalangan after an interval of about three months.

Taltalabong:  Following many ceremonies a small bamboo raft with arched covering is constructed.  In it offerings are placed for spirits, who have been unable to attend the rite.  In Manabo it is said that the raft is intended particularly for the sons of Kadaklan (Plate XXVI).

Tangpap:  Two types of structure appear under this name.  When it is built as a part of the Tangpap ceremony, it is a small house with a slanting roof resting on four poles.  About three feet above the ground, an interwoven bamboo floor is lashed to the uprights (Plate XXVII).  In the Sayang ceremony, there are two structures which go by this name (Plate XX, Nos. 2 and 3).  The larger has two floors, the smaller only one.  On each floor is a small pot of basi, daubed with white.

Taboo Gateway:  At the gate of a town, one sometimes finds a defensive wall of bamboo, between the uprights of which are thrust bamboo spears in order to catch evil spirits, while on the gate proper are vines and leaves pleasing to the good spirits.  Likewise in the saloko, which stands close by, are food and drink or betel-nut.  All this generally appears when an epidemic is in a nearby village, in order to frighten the bearers of the sickness away, and at the same time gain the aid of well-disposed spirits.  At such a time many of the people wear wristlets and anklets of bamboo, interwoven with roots and vines which are displeasing to the evil beings (Plate XXVIII).

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The Tinguian from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.