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Building the Ang's house. |
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When I came at 9.30 only the Ang (Chinkak) himself and three other men were working, they were digging the holes for the wall-posts (dze), which partly were already standing. The two big door posts of the old Ang's house have been overthrown. Soon eight boys brought one of the main posts. The main posts are not very big and very roughly carved. |
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9.45 Fifteen Thepong boys bring palm leaves and put them down in front of the morung. |
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(36) 10am. Now twelve men are working. Nieang stands in the middle of the house, shouting and giving good advice. He doesn't dream to work himself. The holes for the main posts are now dug. The two men start making mats for the side walls of split bamboo. 11am. Two main posts have been put up. Now several men are dragging one of the old door posts to the hole which has been dug for it. For dragging they use the long, strong canes that are kept in the morung. (37) After putting up the post, the hole is filled with earth and stones. At once the wall which is partly already standing is extended up to the post. The morungs, Aukheang, Angban & Balang, have each given one main post. The Thepong gave the ridge pole and Bala the bamboos for the roof. The middle main post is put up and bamboos are laid from one main post to the other and tied to it. In the meanwhile some men bind the cow, throw it down and (38) tie it to the left door post. Then the Ang sprinkled some water on the mouth of the cow and said: [konyak]. This should really be done by his mother and wife, but the former is too old and the latter has recently had a baby. Then he sprinkles madhu on the cow's mouth (with the same words) and also on the three main posts. To these genna leaves have been tied. (39) Then the Ang's Benba, Aphei, a Chi man, cuts the throat of the cow with a dao. He does not say any words. (40-41) [konyak]. |
