[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]

SANTO—PIGS 1 77

in high jumps between the pigs. After this he
needed a rest, and no wonder; Then the pigs were
sacrificed with mysterious ceremonies, the meaning
of which has probably never been penetrated. The
end of it all was that Palo broke the pigs’ heads with
a special club, and when night fell, twenty-six
“tuskers” lay agonizing on the ground. Later they
were hung on trees, to be eaten next day, and then
everybody retired to the huts to eat and rest.

Some hours later great fires were kindled at both
ends of the square, and women with torches stood all
around. The high-caStes opened the ball, but there
was not much enthusiasm, and only a few young—
sters hopped about impatiently, until their spirits
infected some older people, and the crowd increased,
so that at last everybody was raving in a mad dance.
The performance is monotonous: some men with
pan-pipes bend down with their heads touching, and
'blow with all their might, always the same note,
marking time with their feet. Suddenly one gives
a jump, others follow, and then the whole crowd
moves a number of times up and down the square,
v until the musicians are out of breath, when they come
to a standstill. The excitement goes on until the
sun rises. The women, as a rule, keep outside the
square, but they dance too, and keep it up all night;
now and then a couple disappears into the darkness.

Next morning Palo, who had hardly closed his
eyes all night, was very busy again, giving each
guest his due share of the feast. The large pigs

were dressed, cut up and cooked. This work lasted
12