mag-, magpa-
-an, pa--an
To use alum medicinally, or in a spiritual ritual in which a
folk healer burns alum on top of hot coals.
Alum is burned when it is suspected that the illness has
been caused by invisible spirits sapat which live in the
forest. The folk healer takes a coconut shell, fills it with
sand, and makes a fire in it with charcoal from a coconut
husk. Then he wafts the smoke around the sick person. He
then adds alum to the fire, allows it to burn, and then
examines it. The melted alum will form an image of
something (e.g. a large rock, tree, etc.) which will give the
folk healer a clue as to where the person was cursed or
made ill, and by whom or what.
Mandian ang apon magpatawas ono si Lola ong
albolario tenged sina-bolan ono ta sapat.
This afternoon Grandmother will have herself treated
with
alum
that's
burned by a folk healer because she
claims she has gotten a skin disease from an evil spirit.
Tawasan mo kay tang anao tenged indi ra malotok tang alobang na.
Please burn
alum
and
waft
the
smoke
around my
child because his nose mucus has not yet become thick and
yellow (lit. ripe). (This is believed to be a sign of
becoming well.)