." A meal and dance follow the offering and then all who
desire may aid in cutting the new rice.

No offerings are associated with the planting or harvesting of other
field crops, but the gathering of sago flour is attended by gifts to the
spirits of the dead and prayers for the health of the workers. The
method of obtaining and preparing the flour is the same as that already
described. Offerings are made before and after a hunt, and a man never
goes to fish without first placing a leg ring and some betel nut on the
sand close to the water, meanwhile saying, "You TimanEm must give us
some food; and you shall have your part." Upon his return he places a
small fish beside the first offering and is then free to take his catch
to the village.

In addition to the pursuits already outlined, we find that some of the
men are expert workers in iron (Fig. 45), copper, and brass, while the
women are weavers. Their weaving does not differ from that previously
described, but a peculiar type of decoration has been developed by this
tribe, and from them has spread somewhat to their neighbors. Waxed
threads are used to work designs into cloth so that when the fabric is
placed in dye the liquid will not reach the portions thus covered.
Later, when the threads are removed, white patterns appear on the red
background (See Plate LXIII).

FIG. 45. MAN'S KNIFE AND SHEATH.

Slaves are kept, but their duties are so similar to those of the
freeborn that it is impossible for the casual observer to pick out the
members of this class.

Until recent years a large part of the man's time was taken up in
preparation for or active participation in the inter-tribal fights.
There are several incentives for these raids. First is the desire for
loot and slaves; then comes the ambition of the young men to be
recognized as successful warriors; and finally, and most compelling is
the demand of the spirit Mandalangan for victims.

A man who has killed five or more persons is entitled to wear a red suit
covered with peculiar white designs (See Plate LXIII), and is henceforth
known as _mabolot_. When his score has reached twenty-five he receives
the still more honorable title of _maisEg_ and is then allowed to dress
entirely in black and to deck his hair with red flowers.[84]

[84] The flowers used are _Celosia cristata L., Graptophyllum hortense
nees_; _Coleus atropurpeus Benth_.

A raid is made only when the moon is full. A dish of red rice is
decora