ACADEMY OF SCIENCES] ALIMENTATION 61 



occasional wild chicken or other bird snared in the forest, or a hornbill killed with an arrow, helps 

 to keep his larder supplied. 



When no fish or meat has been procured, and this is more often the rule than the exception, he 

 may have found on his rambles some mushroomlike fungi, 15 or even mushrooms, 16 or he may have 

 taken a notion to cut down some palm tree, and get a fine palm 17 or rattan core 18 or even young 

 bamboo shoots. 19 While straying along the river bank he may pick some fern tops of an edible 

 variety. 20 Any of these things affords as fair supplement to his rice, as butter does to bread. The 

 palm-tree cores are full of big luscious larvae. 21 He may have a chance to kill an iguana 22 or mon- 

 arch lizard. 23 The killing of a monkey with his bow and arrow, or in his traps, affords him a choice 

 piece of meat. And when he has the good fortune to kill a python, he has enough Is-da for himself, 

 his relatives, and his neighbors for at least one meal. Occasionally, during the proper season, he 

 locates a bees' nest and therefrom procures an amount of honey, larvse, and beebread that proves 

 an uncommon treat for himself and his family. Again, on the river at certain periods he has noth- 

 ing else to do except to scoop into his dugout (if he has one) the exhausted "water-skimmers, " 24 

 or while passing near some sand bank to spy the spot where the water lizard buried her delicious 

 eggs. In the little side streams he may catch a few frogs and go on his way rejoicing. 



With these random finds, with wild boar and deer that come from an occasional chase, with 

 such salted and dried fish, including jerked crocodile, as he may purchase directly or indirectly 

 from Bisaya traders or from Christianized Manobos, and with a casual pig or fowl killed on 

 ceremonial or festival occasions, he manages to keep his family fairly well supplied with an 

 accompaniment for the mess of rice or other staple food. 



Salt, the native red pepper, 25 and at times ginger constitute a very important part of the meal, 

 if they are obtainable. The first mentioned article is far from being abundant, especially in 

 certain localities, such as the Baobo River and the upper parts of the Ihawan, Umaiam, and 

 Bahaian Rivers. In such places as these the writer found such an intense craving for it that it 

 was eaten ravenously and declared to be "sweet." 



There is such an inordinate desire for salt, especially the rock salt made out of salt water and 

 ash lye, that the Manobo will submit sometimes to tyranny and to the most exorbitant rates in 

 order to obtain it. This craving for salt will explain the general preference that is felt for salted 

 food as against fresh meat. The small salted fish, peddled in such quantities by Bisaya traders, 

 are prized above the choicest pieces of venison and jerked crocodile, presumably for the salt that 

 they contain. It may be wondered why the Manobo does not salt his own meat and fish, but 

 this is explained by the fact that such an operation is strictly tabooed. 



Red pepper is a sine qua non. It is eaten much as we eat salt, and is said to impart courage. 

 In the regions near the Mandayas it is put up in a special form, 28 this being nothing more than the 

 dried pepper pounded, mixed with salt, and preserved in bamboo joints in a dry place, usually 

 in the smoke above the hearth. In this condition it acquires an extraordinary strength that 

 makes the plain red pepper taste mild. This is explained, perhaps, by the fact that in the pound- 

 ing the seeds of the pepper are triturated. 



ls Ta-ling-a bd-tang. 

 II Lig-bus, saning-sA-ging. 

 " 6-bud. 

 '« Pa-tan. 

 » Da-bung. 



*> Pd-ko' (Asplenium acultntum) 

 « A-bi-tud. 

 ■ Qi-bang. 

 '* Ibid. 



« These are a variety of insect called di-li, of a whitish color about 2 centimeters long, and having two threadlike appendages extending from the 

 posterior part. They are eaten raw, usually with vinegar and salt. This insect is said to be, probably, one of the Neuroptera or Pseudoneuroptera. 

 « Ka-tum-ba (Capsicum sp.). 

 » Du-mang. 



