Balinong – House Construction

Two recordings in which Sesong Ronrang speaks about the process of constructing houses. These consist of the following sound files: SDM25-20100118-201347_JS_E_Balinong_HouseConstruction.wav SDM25-20100118-202747_JS_E_Balinong_HouseConstructionPrayer.wav The details of these recordings are as follows: SDM25-20100118-201347_JS_E_Balinong_HouseConstruction.wav; Duration 8’01”; Relating to the house construction (Jürgen’s note: 10’15” about house opening; 16’10” a house opening song, sung by Sesong – these times probably relate to video). The preparations for house opening were described by Sesong. Unmilled grains of rice, husked by hand, will be taken, as many grains as there are members of the household. These will be buried in the ground in a bamboo tube which is split and then very carefully tied back together and closed up at both ends. This will be buried overnight at the place where it is proposed the house be constructed. The burial of this will be accompanied by prayers. No other persons will be told about this, so that nobody would be able to disturb it. In the early morning it will be examined. If the rice grains have not moved, and have not been eaten by ants, or spoiled by moisture. then the location chosen for the house is a good one. If however there is some damage to them, then this is not a good location for a house and if a house were built there it would lead to misfortunes for the family. SDM25-20100118-202747_JS_E_Balinong_HouseConstructionPrayer.wav; Duration 2’06”; Asking about the prayer that is said at the time of house opening – Sentum’s uncl