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
season.

[26] FATHER GISBERT relates that it is the custom to sacrifice a slave
at this time, but this is denied by the _datu_ consulted by the writer.
See letters of FATHER GISBERT in BLAIR and ROBERTSON, The Philippine
Islands, Vol. XLIII; pp. 233-4.