A headhunting headdress, used during a headhunting enactment ritual, bahbah; a headband worn by men, women and children; a temporary hat made of a broad leaf or paper.
Maphod di pongot nan binabāin manāyaw.
The temporary hats of the women dancing are nice.
The sponsor of a headhunting enactment ritual along with several other men go to the forested area to enact the taking of an enemy's head. On their return, in the forest, they prepare a headdress and arm and leg bands, bolyat. A headband is made of the white inner bark of a hū'a tree. A stalk of the ti plant, dongla, with three or four leaves attached is placed one on either side of the headband, either in a horizontal or standing position and serves as the headdress plumes. Entering a village with bongot and bolyat, regalia signifies that they have taken an enemy's head. People of both sexes, including children, traditionally wore headbands to decorate the body. These were worn casually when going to work, visiting other areas and especially during dances such as during headhunting enactment rituals. They were made of the bark of the hū'a tree when available, but more commonly of the fiber from the lower frond stem of an areca nut palm, mama. Plumes were fashioned also from this fiber and two each were placed front and back on the headband.