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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. Sogáyob: A covered porch, which is built along one side of the house during the Sayang ceremony.
The mediums summon several spirits; a chicken or a pig is killed, and its blood mixed with rice is offered up. At the conclusion a small saloko containing an egg is attached to one end of the roof. In Ba-ak this is generally a three to six day event attended by all the friends and relatives of the family.
The end of the bamboo is split open, and a saloko is constructed to which are attached the other leaves and stalks. If the field is near the village, the latter is generally dispensed with, but if it is distant, the house is erected so that the spirit will accept it as its dwelling, while it is guarding the crop.
The ritual of the Saloko ceremony seems, in part, to bear out this claim; yet the folk-tales and equally good informants assure us that the heads were placed on sharpened bamboo poles, which passed through the foramen magnum. It is probable that both methods of exhibiting skulls were employed in the Tinguian belt.
This is mixed with rice, and a part is at once deposited in the saloko, while the balance is placed on a head-axe, and is carried about the field. When the whole plot has been traversed, this rice and blood is scattered in all directions, while the spirits are besought to come and eat.
The significance of this sprinkling is not known, but the custom is widespread, and is evidently very ancient. In the mountain village of Likuan, a man who wears a very large hat takes the child to a nearby saloko. As he returns, he is sprinkled by a medium, who says, "You are wet from the rain; in what place did you get wet?"
"You spirits of the sagang, who live in the west. "You Lalaman above. "You Lalaman on the wooded hill. "You Lalaman in the west. "If you took the head of the sick man, "You must now grant him health, as you please." The fowl is killed; and its blood, together with rice and some other gift, is placed in the saloko, and is planted near the house or gate.
It is further explained that the spirit then stays in the small house or saloko instead of in the rice stalks, and so they are able to grow. A female pig is presented to the medium who, after reciting a proper diam above it, stabs the animal and collects its blood.
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.
Certain of the present villages make use of the sagang, but the more common type of head holder is the saloko, which still figures in many ceremonies. However, the heads only remain in these receptacles until the day set for the festival.
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