20 THE MANOBOS OF MINDANAO— GARVAN tM, "°j$£ xxm. 



GENERAL SOCIOLOGICAL CULTURE 



DOMESTIC LIFE 



Marital relations. — In his choice of a wife the man is guided to a great extent by the wishes 

 of his relatives, but the woman is given no option. There are no antenuptial relations between 

 the pair, the marriage contract and all arrangements being made by their respective relatives. 

 The transactions usually cover years. The woman's relatives demand for her an amount of 

 worldly goods — slaves, pigs, bolos, and spears — that is almost impossible of payment. The 

 man's relatives, on the other hand, strive to comply, but make use of every means to gain the 

 friendship of the other side and thereby bring about a more considerate demand. 



When, perhaps after years of effort, an agreement is reached, a great feast is prepared by the 

 two parties. The final payment is made by the man's relatives, and the following day a recipro- 

 cal banquet is given by the girl's relatives, in the course of which one-half of the value of the pay- 

 ment made by the man's relatives is returned by the girl's relatives as an indication that "she 

 has not been sold like a slave." 



The marriage ceremony consists in the exchange of rice between the bride and the bride- 

 groom. This is followed by a religious rite that consists mainly in determining by divination 

 the fate of the couple. 



Marriage is sometimes effected by capture, usually, I think, with the connivance of the 

 woman. But the procedure involves a heavier payment to the throng of armed relatives that 

 invariably set out in pursuit of the captors. 



Prenatal marriage contracts are rare, but child marriage without cohabitation is practiced 

 to a certain extent, especially among the more influential members of the tribe. 



The age for marriage is about the age of puberty for the women and about the age of 18 

 for the men. Polygamy is a recognized institution, but is comparatively rare except among 

 those who have the means to pay for the luxury of a second, third, or fourth wife. It pre- 

 supposes the consent of the first wife, who always retains and maintains her position, there 

 being no jealously, as far as my observation goes, and few domestic broils. Polyandry is con- 

 sidered swinish, and concubinage is unknown. Divorce is not in accord with tribal customs. 

 The same holds true of prostitution. 



There is no evidence of the practice of endogamy which is so widespread among the Oceanic 

 peoples. As a rule, however, the Manobo marries within his own tribe. This is due to his 

 environment, to the hostile relations he ever holds with surrounding tribes, and to differences 

 of religious beliefs. The only impediment to marriage is consanguinity, but even this impedi- 

 ment may be removed in the case of cousins by appropriate religious ceremonies. Consan- 

 guineous marriages are rare. 



Upon the death of the husband, the wife is considered to belong to his relatives. Upon 

 the presentation of a second suitor, she is remarried in the same manner as on her first marriage, 

 but the payments demanded are not so high. 



Marriages seem to result in reciprocal good understanding and happiness. The wife goes 

 about her manifold duties day after day without a murmur, while her master keeps his weapons 

 in good condition, fishes and hunts occasionally, goes on a trading trip at times, takes part in 

 social gatherings, lends his voice in time of trouble, and goes off to fight if there should be oc- 

 casion for it. 



Faithfulness to the marriage tie is one of the most striking features of Manoboland. Adultery 

 is extremely rare. The husband fives, at least during the first part of the married life, with his 

 father-in-law, and displays toward his parents-in-law the same feelings that he entertains for 

 his own parents. His wife is always under the eyes of her own parents, so that he is restrained 

 from indulging in any marital bickerings. 



Pregnancy, birth, and childhood. — The desire for children is strong. Hence voluntary abor- 

 tion and infanticide are unknown. In case of involuntary abortion, which is comparatively 

 frequent, the fetus is hung or buried under the house. When the child begins to quicken in the 

 womb, the mother undergoes a process of massage at the beginning of every lunar month. 



