A dispute-settling contest.
The contest is either by throwing divining canes, uggub, or by wrestling, agwit. A contest is used to settle disputes, such as: land boundaries; amount remaining, if any, in payment of a purchased pond field; ownership of land, a pond field; guilt or innocence of one accused of theft of an expensive item such as a pig or wine jar; the guilt or innocence of one accused of adultery. The contest is an involved ritual, including prayers to spirits to invoke their help. Opponents and their supporters assemble at opposite ends of a village and dance single file towards each other with a leader of each group wearing a ritual packsack, inabnūtan, and holding a fighting spear, bāngkaw, and shield, hapīaw. The second in line is the accuser or accused, with a blanket draped over his head and body. When the contestants are in position the blanket is removed and the contest begins. In the case of a tie, tabla, settlement is by prior agreement. If the accuser loses, he must pay the expenses of the sacrificial ceremony of the defendant and a fine for making the accusation.
ūgub 2