Eastern times., 1855-04-19
A Feast in the Philippines.

Towards eleven o'clock, the chief of the
town, followed by all the population, directed
their steps towards the large shed. There
every one took his place on the ground, each
party, headed by its chiefs, occupying place
marked out beforehand. In the middle of a
circle formed by the chiefs Of the warriors
were large vessels full of basi, beverage
made with the fermented juice of the sugar
cane, and four hideous heads Of guinas entirely
disfgured-these were the trophies of the
victory. When all the assaiants had taken
their places, champion Of Laganguilany
Madalag took one of the heads and presented
il to the chiefs of the town, who showed it to
all the assailants, making long speech COM
pretending many praises for the conquerors
This discourse being over, the warrior took up
the head. divided it with strokes of his hatchet,
and took out the brains. During this opera
tion SO unpleasant to witness, another champi-
on got second head, and handed it to the
chiefs, the same speech was delivered, then
he broke the skull to pieces in like manner,
and took out the brains. The same was done
with the four bleeding skulls of the subdued
enemies. When the brains were taken out,
the young girls bounded them with their hands
into the vases containing the liquor of the fer
mented sugar-cane. They stirred the mixture
round, and then the vases were taken to the
chiefs, who dipped in their small osier COB
lets, through the assures of which the liquid
part ran-out, and the solid part that remained
at the bottom they drank with ecstatic sensu-
ality. | felt quite sick at this scene, SO entire
ly new 10 me. After the chieftain's turn
came the turn of the new champions.
The vases were presented to them, and each
one slipped with delight this frightful drink, to
the noise of wild songs. There was really
something Internal in this sacrifice to victory.
We sat in circle and these vases were car
ried round. | well understood that we were
about undergoing disgusting Test Alas!
had not lnno to wait for ia The r.e--i~--
planted themselves before me, and presented
me with the basi and the frightful cup. All
eyes were fixed upon me. The invitation was
so direct, to refuse would perhaps be ex.
posing myself to DEATH II is impossible tc
describe the interior conflict that passed with
in me. l would rather have preferred the
carbine of bandit five PAGES from my chest
or await, as had already done, the impetuou.
attack of wild buffalo. What perplexity
! shall never forget that awful moment. /
struck me with terror and disgust however
1 contained myself, nothing betraying my emo
ton. initiated the savages, and, dipping the
osier goblet into the drink, approached it te
my lips. and passed ii to the unfortunate
Alila, who could not avoid this internal bev
erage. The sacrifice was complete; the liba
tions were over, but not the songs. The bas
is very spirituous and inebriating liquor
and the assistants. who had partaken rather
too freely of this horrible drink, sang louder Il
the noise of the ton-tom and the gong, Will,
the champions divided the human skulls int,
small pieces, destined to be seat as presents I,
all their friends. The distribution was mad,
during the sitting, after which the chiefs de
clared the ceremony over. They then danced
The savages divided themselves into two lines
and, bowling as if they were furious madmer
or terribly provoked, they jumped about, lay
ing their right hand upon the shoulder of thei
partners, and changing place with them
These dances continued all day. AT last nigh
came on, each inhabitant retired with his fam
lily and some few guests to his @rial abode
and soon afterwards tranquility was restored
LA Gironiere's Ttoenty Years in the Phil
ippines.