| caption: |
Chapter Eight. The Harvest |
| caption: |
ceremonial of the first sowing |
| text: |
The first sowing is a ceremonial sowing, a solemn act performed by a descendant of the village-founder on behalf of the whole village. He sacrifices a chicken on one of his fields and addresses the sky-god Gawang: "Let there be many blossoms this year; be gracious, O Gawang. Give us rice, give us millet, O Gawang." Then he throws out the rice, murmuring, "May my rice sprout first. Shut the beaks of the birds, bind the mouths of the rats and mice. May the crops prosper." |
