the growing grain and to the laborers, and for the bounteous harvest.  Frequently individuals will interrupt the proceedings to place near to the mabalian a fine knife or some other prized object which they desire to have presented to the spirits as evidence of their gratitude.  At first, it is a little hard to understand this lavishness, but it transpires that the former owners still have possession of these objects, and that the spirits offer no objections to their use, so long as their ownership is not disputed, truly a case of eating the pie but still having it.

The knives and other implements which have been used in the fields are laid on a large basket filled with rice, “in order that they may eat, and, therefore, have no cause to injure their owners.”  Another large dish of rice is set aside as a special offering.  In some cases this is taken out to the fields, where it is eaten by the wife, or wives of the host; but in Cibolan it is kept in the house until the next morning, when it is eaten by all the members of the family.  The ceremonial eating of this rice causes the supply to last longer and assures abundant rains for the succeeding crop.  Part of the food from the dishes is placed in the tambara and shrines, and then all the guests are permitted to feast and make merry.  Unlike most Bagobo ceremonies this one lacks the music of the agongs,[1] for only bamboo guitars, flutes, and the bolang-bolang are permitted at this time.  The last named instrument is made by placing a board on a rice mortar; the women gather around it with their wooden pestles and beat a rythmical[sic] tattoo.  This concludes the festival proper, but many guests will remain for two or three days to enjoy the hospitality of their host.

[1] Copper gongs.

On the third morning after the festival the family and some friends will celebrate BagkEs “the tying together.”  The dishes in which food was offered are tied together and are carried to the rice field where, with great solemnity, the little dish in the parobanian is removed and placed among the others, while the people tell it that the other plates have come to take it away, but that it will be returned to its home the following year.  The family goes back to the village in silence and after tying all the dishes together place them in the rice granary.

In the Bagobo settlement at Digos, the women hold still another festival following the cutting of the rice.  This is known as Gomeng ka taragomi, or bitinbagaybe.  In the main it resembles the ceremony of similar name, which the women of Malilla hold on the second day of GinEm (See page 111).  A bamboo pole decked with leaves and green fruit of the areca palm is placed in the center of a room and is surrounded with cooked food.  After this has been offered to the spirits, it is eaten by the guests who then indulge in dancing about the decorated pole.  This generally lasts eight days, but in one instance the festivities continued for sixteen days and nights.  The explanation given is that “the women wish to show Taragomi and the Nitos (anitos) how happy they are because of the good harvest, for when they see this they will be pleased and will help again next year.”