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Dawang-Dawang,
the giant demon mask of Tabanan, may perhaps be regarded
as a variety of the Barong Landoeng, though apparently
celibate. k is carried' about in cases of illness, but
otherwise lives in a small temple up a side lane of
the village of Bongan, just outside Tabanan. The old
priest who watches over it agreed that it might be photographed
if offerings were paid for. A plate or two were prepared
and carried by women into the inner court, where the
Dawang-Dawang is kept in a bali, the great body of canvas
and bamboo outside, the mask in a basket. The offerings
consisted of flowers--4iibiscus and marigold-rice, eggs,
chalk, betel, tortoiseshell, a twenty-five-cent piece,
wine and holy water. The giant was dressed before us
in the courtyard, in an old faded blue and white check,
with a yellow sash.
In
his painted red right hand he held between his breasts
a black and white sacrificial sword, such as is always
carried at ceremonies of exorcism. The mask is red,
with huge gold teeth parted in a grin, and gold tusks.
A gold line follows the ridge of his great nose and
outlines his cheeks and nostrils; he has gold brows
and eyelids, several half-circles of gold and red alternating
with hair above his eyes, prominent white eyeballs and
small glass pupils which five a glittering effect to
his stare. Leather flames, gold, red, and black, surround
his hibiscus flowers are stuck behind his ears, green
foliage dangling from them over his cheeks. A great
moustache completely covers his mouth and frames his
chin. A bristling wig of sugar palm fibre forms a fringe
above his mask, and falls in a point down his back,
caught v a gold leather clasp, a dirty white cloth is
tied round his neck. He has breasts affixed, with black-painted
nipples; he even has red hair under his armpits.
A
similar figure, but with extended functions, is Dane
Djero Gede, also of the Tabanan neighbourhood, who lives
in the temple of Tanah Regat. During a week of cremation
festivities at Tabanan he was paraded every day before
the palace-gates, doing a light dance step with dangling
arms, to the rhythms of the Gong Gede. It is said that
his mask is liable to go into trance in the temple quite
by itself, and that some one has to be fetched hastily
from the fields to carry it, and go where it leads.
In the days before the Dutch domination there was, it
is said, a great rivalry between the royal houses of
Tabanan and Menggwi. Once when there was much illness
in Menggwi, Dane Djero Gede was carried there to exorcize
it. But the raja of Menggwi said, 'This is a good opportunity
to kill the good. spirit of Tabanan,' and he ordered
his people to seize it and trample it to pieces.
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