Holding the cone above my mouth he pressed the leaves to extract a large quantity of juice from the two plants. Through the months, I experimented many traditional medicines and was always astonished by their efficiency and the knowledge of the Mentawais. Animals are killed following a ritual to thank them for their meat and to free their spirits which will protect people. In a ritual, chickens are killed by the eldest. Their stomachs are thoroughly inspected by a few sikeireis.
Good augurs bring happiness, bad ones fear.
If one chicken was killed and showed bad signs, a second one would be killed for confirmation. All know the medicines but a full team of shamans will be stronger to chase the bad spirits and heal the patient. As part of all ceremonies the sikeireis and their wives share a ritual meal of pigs or wild boars before incanting the magic chants.