| caption: |
secret words at ceremonial |
| text: |
The old gaonbura of the Dingdong morung came into my camp this morning in order to tell me as promised the words which the old men sing at the Oyayanu while they are standing around the bamboo pole in front of the Ang's house. As Chingai assures me these words are in an old-fashioned and unusual language and he says it is difficult for him to give the precise meaning of every single word. In general they are rather disappointing and despite the secrecy which surrounds them they are not very different from other chants. (See notebook 10 p. 49). |
