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Then she brought basi in a large jar, and Dinawagen, counting the notches in the rim, perceived that the jar had been handed down through nine generations. They ate and drank together, and after they had finished the meal, Dinawagen told Aponibalagen of her son's wishes, and asked if he was willing that his sister should marry Gawigawen.
"Come up, Aunt, and we will hear what you have to say." So he asked his mother Ebang to prepare food. As soon as Ebang had prepared the food and called them to eat, Aponibalagen went to get the basi and they drank before they ate. And Ebang broke up the fish stick and put it in the pot and it became fish.
Then, filling a coconut shell with basi, he drank half and presented the shell to each candidate, who had to drain it to the last drop. A circle was formed, and for the balance of the afternoon the new members of the tribe had to dance tadek with their relations.
But it was not all basi and dancing: councils were held, the visiting rancherías profiting by the opportunity of enforced peace to clear up issues. At these councils, which came off in the open, on the parade, the people of the rancherías interested would sit on the ground in a circle, maintaining absolute silence, while their spokesmen, a head man from each, walked around in the circle.
A framework is constructed in the yard, and on it are placed eggs, meat, fish, rice cakes, sugar, betel-nut, tobacco, basi, and rice mixed with blood. After allowing the superior beings a few moments to finish their repast, the viands are removed, and from then until sunset all the guests dance tadek.
The people came from all parts of the world, and while they played on the gongs and danced, Aponitolau called to Kanag and said: "Come down, my son; do not stay always in the tops of the trees. Come and see the pretty girls and see which one you want to marry. Get the golden cup and give them basi to drink."
"Ala, dip again and I will drink next," said Ligi to him, and Ligi drank a shell cup of basi. "Ala, dip again, we will drink three shell cups of this basi," said Ligi. When Kanag had drunk the three shells of wine he was drunk and he slept. As soon as he was asleep, "What shall I do now," said Ligi to himself. "The best thing for me to do is to send him away with the storm."
So Langa-an went home and when she arrived she laid down on the porch of the house for she was drunk, and Lingiwan saw her and waked her. "What is the matter with you?" he said. "I am drunk for Pagbokásan and Ebang urged me to drink much basi, so I was scarcely able to get home, that is why I slept on the porch." "Mother, you go into the house, do not sleep on the porch."
While all this is taking place, the men in the balaua drink basi and sing dalengs in which they praise the liberality of their hosts, tell of the importance of the family, and express hope for their continued prosperity. As they sing, the chief medium goes from one to another of the guests, and after dipping a piece of lead in coconut oil, holds it to their nostrils as a protection against evil.
Aponigawani said, "If you think it is good for me to be married now, and you think he is a good man for my husband it is all right, for he has magical power like us." As soon as the agreed month passed the parents of Dangdangáyan came to ask if they wished the marriage. They prepared a number of basi jars for them to drink from when they should arrive.
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