52 THE MANOBOS OF MINDANAO— GARVAN [MEUO ™o?.xxm, 



tribes of the Malay Peninsula attribute magic properties to the decorative incisions on their combs. 

 Following out this idea, the writer made numerous inquiries in the Agusan Valley as to the exist- 

 ence of a similar or of an analogous attribution but found none. According to all reports these 

 patterns are purely esthetic in their character, with no magic or other attributes. The fact that 

 among the Manobos of the upper Agusan in the vicinity of Veruela, one finds combs without 

 incised work and among the Manobos of Argawan, Umaiam, andKasilaian one occasionally sees 

 combs with circular, square, and triangular pieces of mother-of-pearl inlaid, is an indication of the 

 absence of the aforesaid belief . In fact, combs of the last-mentioned type seem to be more highly 

 prized than the. plain incised bamboo ones, a fact due probably to the scarcity of mother-of-pearl. 

 Another point that goes to bear out the above statement is the fact that no reluctance is displayed 

 in parting with a comb, no matter how intricate or unusual may be its incisions. 



On the upper Agusan it is not rare to find combs that have a band of beaten silver with a 

 fretwork pattern laid across the convex part above the teeth. These combs, however, are im- 

 ported from the Debabaons of Moncayo or from the composite group living farther up the river. 

 The writer knows of no Manobo silversmith. 



No hairpins nor other means of fastening the hair are made use of, neither are any dyes nor 

 other materials used to alter its color. 



EAR DISKS 



Another ornament found on the Manobo woman's head is the ear disk. This is a disk of 

 wood 2 about 3 centimeters in diameter, and 6 millimeters wide, with a small groove around the 

 edge in which rests the edge of the ear perforation. When the wearer has been lucky enough 

 to get a thin lamina of silver or of gold 3 it is fastened on the outside of the wooden disk by means 

 of a few strands of imported cotton yarn nearly always red. The yarn passes through a hole in 

 the lamina and in the disk, a little tuft being left over the hole. These metal plates have usually 

 stellate edges and are often decorated with a simple chiseled pattern. They are rare except on 

 the upper Agusan where there are Debabaon and Mandaya smiths. In lieu of gold and silver, a 

 lamina made out of beaten brass wire answers the purpose. 



On the upper Agusan both men and women suspend four strings of beads from each ear, 

 when the dignity of the occasion requires it. These strings are about 30 centimeters long and 

 have colored cotton tassels at the ends. Both these tassels and the strings of beads are of the 

 preferred colors, red, white, black, and yellow. I am inclined to think that this custom is also 

 of Mandaya origin. Occasionally one or two buttons 4 are worn in the ear lobes of men on the 

 upper Agusan. This practice seems to have been adopted from the Mandayas. 



NECK AND BREAST ORNAMENTS 



The number of necklets and necklaces worn depends on the wealth of the wearer or on her 

 good fortune in having been able to secure a supply of beads. The components of the necklace 

 are principally beads with alternating odoriferous seeds or pieces of seeds. Here and there a 

 small shell may be added, or a larger bead, or a crocodile tooth. The writer has seen worn coils 

 of beads with small shells, seeds, and crocodile teeth, that must have weighed at least 2 kilograms. 

 Such an array as this is not worn every day but is reserved for occasions of religious or secular 

 festivity and for times when the possessor feels bound to make an unusual display. The seeds 

 worn are the same as those that form part of the girdle — pendants, above described. 



It may not be out of place here to note the fondness displayed by the feminine portion of 

 the tribe for perfumes. This is characteristic of all the peoples of eastern Mindanao with whom 

 I have been in contact. Though medicinal and magic virtues are attributed, perhaps, to these 

 odorous seeds, yet their fragrance is also undoubtedly a determining factor in the choice of them. 



In the color of the beads used the Manobo is restricted by the character of the supply, but 



1 Usually of ku-H-pd-pa. 



3 Oold lamina? are very rare and are seldom parted with. They are highly valued heirlooms. The silver lamina is beaten out of a piece of 

 silver money. 



* Ordinary undershirt buttons. 



