the witch is in
his. The procurer of this witch they say is the bird tictic, [352]
and that this bird, by flying and singing, shows the witch or osuang
the house where there is a parturition, and even guides him to work
other misfortunes. Consequently, whenever they see or hear the tictic,
they all grow melancholy, in their fear lest some harm come to them.

450. They greatly fear and reverence the tigbalang or bibit. This is
a ghost, goblin, or devil; and as it knows the cowardice of these
Indians, it has been wont to appear to them in the mountains--now
in the guise of an old man, telling them that he is their nono; now
as a horse; and now as a monster. Consequently, the Indians in their
terror make various pacts with it, and trade their rosaries for various
articles of superstitious value, such as hairs, grass, stones, and
other things, in order to obtain all their intents and free themselves
from all the dangers. Thus do they live in delusion until God wills
that the evangelical ministers undeceive them, which costs no little
[effort], because of the very great fear with which they are filled.

451. In order to discover any theft, they generally burn fresh
rock-alum, and after it has vaporized and then crystallized they say
that the figure which those crystals form is the living picture of
So-and-so, and that he is the author of the theft. Since they believe
such nonsense as easily as it is difficult to make them believe the
divine mysteries, they all agree to that statement, even though the
face should be that of a dog; and they make a charge in court against
So-and-so, and impute the theft to him. Sometimes they take a screen or
sieve (which they call bilao), in which they fasten some scissors in
form of a cross, to which a rosary is hung. Then they proceed to call
the name of each one who is present at this exercise. If the bilao
shakes when the name of Pedro is called, then that poor Pedro is the
robber, and pays for the theft, without having perhaps eaten or drunk
of it. [353] Sometimes they light a candle to the saint of miracles,
my St. Anthony of Padua, misapplying his peculiar protection for
all lost things; they believe that if the flame of the candle should
flare up in the direction of any of those present at this act, he is
thus shown to be the robber. For these and like deceitful artifices,
there are not wanting masters, Indian impostors, both men and women,
who, in order to gain money, deceive the sim