In this instance, the rite was held to effect the cure of a sick woman and to learn the desires of the spirits.  Two mediums, assisted by several men and women, spent the first afternoon preparing the things to be used.  First, a short cane was fashioned out of black wood, rattan rings were slipped over this, and all were placed inside a Chinese jar.  A dish of cooked rice was put over the top, as a cover, and a blanket spread over the whole.  This was brought close to the patient, the medium recited a dam over it, [128] and then ordered that it remain there throughout the ceremony.  On a large mat in the center of the room were placed betel-nuts, coconuts, and leaves, two jars—­one empty, the other filled with basi—­, a large and small head-axe, two spears, and some shells.  An empty jar had a string of beads tied around its neck, and inside it was placed a switch, care being taken that a portion of it hung outside.  Beside the jar was a basket containing five bundles of unthreshed rice, on which was a skein of thread supporting a new jar.  All this was covered with a woman’s skirt.  Finally a bound pig was laid just inside the door.

When all was complete, three men played on the tongatong (cf. p. 314), until one of the mediums took her place beside the mat.  Raising a plate above her head, she struck it repeatedly with a small head-axe, to call attention of the spirits. [129] Then she began to chant and wail calling the spirits to enter her body.  After two or three moments of song, she was possessed by a spirit, who announced that his name was Ibalinsogwan.  He placed a rooster at one end of a spear, and a bundle of rice at the other, did a short dance, and departed.  The mediums then seated themselves on opposite sides of the jar of basi; each drank of the liquor, and the chant began again.  Spirit after spirit took possession of one of the mediums, who then conversed with the other, asked questions concerning the patient, or other matters, and occasionally offered advice.  Before his departure, each spirit would drink of the basi.

The members of the family were present during most of the day; friends came, and went as they pleased, stopped to listen to or talk with the spirits, drank basi, and then went about their work.

Early the second morning, the mediums went to a bound pig in the house, and after placing betel-nut on its back, they poured water into its ear.  This caused the animal to shake its head; and, as the water was thrown out, one of the mediums caught it in her hand, and applied it to the sick woman, at the same time chanting, “Go away sickness, be thrown out like this water; let this person be well, for she is now following the custom.”  As soon as she had finished, two men carried the animal to the river bank, where they killed and singed it.  Upon their return to the house, they removed and carefully examined its liver; for, by the markings on it, the people