the land cannot plant at this time, he has
two or more opportunities given him when the constellations _Mamari_ and
_Bwaya_ appear, the latter toward the end of June.

[21] See p. 66, Fig. 12.

[22] Evil spirits which are classed with the _buso_. See p. 107.

When the workers go to the field on the day set for the planting they
enter at one corner and proceed directly across it to the far left hand
corner where they erect a small house or place a _tambara_ which is
known as _pEmEg'ge_. As soon as it is complete, the _mabalian_ begin to
call on the spirits. Manama[23] is called first and after him other
spirits, according to their rank and power. They are informed that the
planting is about to begin and that the people are showing them this
mark of respect so that they will not allow anything to interfere with
the crop. This done, they go to the center of the field and place a
second _tambara_, called _parobanian_, for the spirit Taragomi, who owns
all food. Leaves pleasing to him and presents of food or bracelets are
placed in it, as well as in his _tambara_ found in the house.[24] The
owner of the field takes the _malayag_, a large variety of rice, and
plants it around the _parobanian_,[25] and as the last grain is planted
the _mabalian_ again starts her prayer, this time beginning with
Taragomi. She asks for good crops, and protection for the field from all
animals, blight and drought. Finally, she begs Eugpamolak Manobo to
control the sun and winds so that they will always be favorable to the
growing grain. Having thus done all in their power to secure the
cooperation of the superior beings the men take their rice planters and
real work begins.[26] The planter (Fig. 29) consists of a long shaft at
one end of which is a metal blade while at the other is a bamboo clapper
decorated with feathers. When this instrument is struck on the ground it
digs a shallow hole an inch or more in depth, the clapper meanwhile
keeping up an incessant noise. It is said by some that the rattle is
intended to please the guardian spirit of the fields, but this does not
seem to be the prevalent idea. The women follow the men, dropping seeds
into the holes and pushing the soil over them with their feet.

[23] Eugpamolak Manobo.

[24] At Cibolan only brass objects are placed in this _tambara_.

[25] At Digos the _mabalian_ does the planting and harvesting about the
_tambara_, and the rice grown there is reserved as seed, for the next
sea