32 THE MANOBOS OF MINDANAO— GARVAN [MM0 [v" ? xxm. 



Another charge is that they are revengeful. They certainly believe in "an eye for an eye, 

 a tooth for a tooth." Revenge for an unatoned wrong is a stern, fundamental, eternal law, 

 sanctioned by Manobo institutions, social, political, and religious; one that is consecrated by the 

 breath of the dying, and passed on from generation to generation to be fulfilled; but it has one 

 saving clause, arbitration. Hence a stranger must inform himself of such past happenings as 

 might jeopardize him. The Manobo has a very limited conception of the extent of the outside 

 world and of the number of its inhabitants, and he is inclined to believe that one American, for 

 instance, knows every other one and may be related by blood to any other. Hence any im- 

 prudent action on the part of one may draw down revenge on the head of another 1 , relative or 

 not, for even innocent third parties may, by Man6bo custom, be sacrificed to the unsatisfied 

 spirit of revenge. The danger, however, in which a stranger might find himself from this cause, 

 is easily eliminated by questioning the people as to who had wronged them on previous occasions; 

 and should he learn that he is considered a party to the wrong through identity of blood or of race 

 with the guilty one, he must gently suggest a plan for arbitration at some later date, and in other 

 pacific ways avert the revenge from himself. 



It is, moreover, affirmed that Man6bos are treacherous. If by treachery is meant a viola- 

 tion of faith and confidence, they can not be said to be treacherous. They kill when they feel 

 that they are wronged. I know of few cases where they did not openly avow their feelings and 

 demand reparation. Refusal to make the reparation demanded is equivalent to a declaration of 

 war, and in war all is fair. It is every man's duty to safeguard himself as best he can. The 

 Man6bo, Mandaya, Mafigguangan, and Debabaon houses erected in strategic positions through- 

 out the interior of eastern Mindanao, bear witness to the fact that these people recognize the 

 principle that all is fair in war. The fact that they frequently carry their spears and shields 

 when on the trail, and in time of trouble accompany their womenfolk to the farms and guard 

 them there, is sufficient evidence of the fact that every means must be taken to safeguard one's 

 self and interests from an enemy. But let a case be once arbitrated, and beeswax burned or 

 other solemn manifestation of agreement be made, and it is my opinion that the pledge will not, 

 as a rule, be broken. 



Cowardice is a trait attributed to Manobos and other people of Mindanao. It is true that 

 they do not take inordinate risks. The favorite hour for attack on an enemy's house is dawn. 

 They prefer to thrust a spear through the floor rather than to call the enemy out to fight a hand- 

 to-hand battle. In other cases they prefer to ambush him on the trail, 5 or 10 men against 1. 

 Again, it may be more convenient to pick off a lone woman in a camote patch. Such are recog- 

 nized methods of warfare. Once aroused, however, the Manobo will fight, and fight to a finish. 

 Throughout the Jesuit letters we find mentioned various instances of really brave deeds on the 

 part of Manobos. In some cases the husband killed his family and then himself rather than fall 

 into the hands of the Spanish troops. I have been informed of hundreds of instances in which 

 the male members of the attacked party threw themselves against superior numbers in order 

 that their wives might escape. Hand-to-hand encounters are not uncommon, if I may believe 

 the endless stories that have been narrated to me by warriors throughout eastern Mindanao. 



Laziness and dilatoriness can certainly be predicated of Manobo men, but such qualities 

 are to be attributed to lack of incentive to work and to hurry. All the household duties fall, by 

 custom, upon the shoulders of the women, so that there is little left for the man except to fish, 

 hunt, trap, trade, and fight. When, however, the men set themselves to clearing the forest or 

 to other manual tasks, it is surprising with what agility, skill, and perseverance they work, 

 though such spells of labor are short lived. 



No one has ever uttered or written a word against the Manobo's sexual morality. It is 

 true that sexual matters are discussed with the greatest freedom, but the most venial breaches 

 of morality are punished. The greatest modesty is observed in regard to the exposure of the 

 private parts. Gazing at an undressed woman, for instance, at the bathing place results in a 



' It is not improbable that the death of Mr. n. M. Ickis, geologist of the Bureau of Science, Manila, was partly due to the capture and 

 exile of one Gubat of the upper Umaiam some 15 or 20 years ago. 



