Page 72 - English Tingkatan 1

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he child naming ceremony of the After the traditional naming of the
Ibans is usually done when the child is the ceremonial bath at a river.
Iban Child's Naming Ceremony
Tchild is old enough to be given The child’s father will request family and
a bath in the river. This is no ordinary friends who stay at the longhouse to attend
bath as it is a ceremony and ritual the ceremony. The following morning, all
that calls upon the gods to bring good the longhouse dwellers would go down to
fortune and health to the child in later the river in a procession led by an elder.
life. The elder is immediately followed by a
The Ibans exercise extreme care man who carries a fowl. They are then
in the selection of a name. A name followed by two of the most productive
that is well chosen is an assurance of and fortunate women in the longhouse.
longevity, happiness and good fortune The first lady bears the offerings while
in life. After the parents have chosen the second, carries the child.
several names, small lumps of rice are Others in the procession beat
placed on a piece of plank. The number percussion instruments throughout the
of lumps represent the number of names event to drown any noise made by birds
chosen. A special fowl is then allowed and to cast away bad omens.
to peck at the rice lumps. Whichever
name represented by the rice lump that Glossary
is pecked will be the name of the child. ritual actions performed as part of a

religious ceremony
omen a sign of what is going to happen
in the future

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1. Fill in the table with an appropriate expression from the text.
Meaning Expression
a. do something carefully
b. long life

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