INVOCATIONS IN WEST TIMOR

Two propitiatory rituals, one prayer for rain and one prayer to the Lo rd of the Bees for a good harvest of honey, both of which are rarely p erformed amongst the Meto, allow the author to describe the relation b etween man and the world of the spirits. Their ritual discourse is ana lysed. Characterised by formalism and paired phrasing, it expresses ma jor metaphorical themes and constitutes a repertoire of religious idea s. Today, however, due to conversions, this ritual discourse has lost much of its spiritual force.