72 THE MANOBOS OF MINDANAO— GARVAN 



The first and immediate effect of chewing this combination is to promote salivation. 

 Following this is the reddening of the saliva by the chemical action of the lime upon the betel 

 nut and the leaf. However, the most important effect produced by the quid is the soothing 

 sensation that follows its use. In this respect it far exceeds tobacco chewing, both in the 

 Manobos' opinion and in my own. The sensations which I experienced on my first trials were a 

 feeling of inflation of the head and a transient sensation of weakness, accompanied by a cold 

 sweat upon the forehead. This was followed by a feeling of exhilaration and quickened vitality. 

 It may be said in general that betel-nut chewing acts as an efficacious restorative, especially 

 during a journey, and as a harmless narcotic which it would be hard to replace. The addition 

 of tobacco intensifies this narcotic effect considerably, other additions such as cinnamon serving 

 only to soften the astringency and the piquancy of the leaf and to impart an aroma to the quid. 



BETEL CHEWING ACCESSORIES 



The Manobo man carries on his back, in a little bag 15 of abakd or other cloth, all the requi- 

 sites for betel-nut chewing. The woman deposits them in an open basket unless she is on a 

 journey, in which case she carries them in a little closed basket. 



The betel nut and the betel leaf are put into the bottom of the sack for the purpose of con- 

 cealment, for there is a continual clamor for one or the other, and should it be known that a 

 certain individual has a supply, the Manobos' social regulations would oblige him to part with 

 it upon request. Hence he keeps it out of view, and is always ready to excuse himself, when 

 asked for one or the other, on the ground that he has no more. 



He keeps a few nuts and leaves for immediate use in a Moro brass box, 16 if he is so fortunate 

 as to possess one. Otherwise he puts them in a cylindrical receptacle 17 usually made out of a 

 small bamboo internode, or in a little round receptacle 18 of plaited rattan coated with the pulp 

 of the seed of a tree. 19 His tobacco for immediate use he keeps in another similar receptacle, the 

 main supply being hidden away in the bottom of the knapsack. 



The lime is invariably kept in a small internode 20 of bamboo. This is open at one end and 

 has a spherical plug of plaited rattan inserted into the mouth for the purpose of preventing an 

 excess of lime from issuing. This spherical network resembles in miniature the football seen so 

 commonly throughout the Philippines. When it is desired to add lime to the quid, the tube is 

 taken in one hand and held in a downward position with the thumb and little finger underneath 

 it and the other fingers above it. The first finger is then made to slide with force from the middle 

 finger down to the tube, thereby tapping out the lime. This tapping motion is similar to that 

 performed when winnowing rice. 



The men use their bolos to cut up the betel nut, but the women have a small knife 21 which 

 also answers the purpose of a general utility implement corresponding to our scissors. 



When the chewer's teeth have deteriorated from age, the quid is mashed in a small mortar 

 made of hardwood, a piece of steel serving as a pestle. In this way the betel nut and leaf are 

 rendered sufficiently soft for mastication. 



In conclusion, it may be said that though the habit seems a dirty one, owing to the discolor- 

 ation of the mouth and lips of the chewer and to the ruby expectorations that tinge his surround- 

 ings, yet on the whole it is a necessary and beneficial practice. From my observation and 

 experience, I believe that the habit eliminates toothache and other disorders of the teeth. Chris- 

 tianized Manobos and Bisayas who have relinquished the habit suffer from dental troubles, 

 whereas the inveterate chewer of the mountains is free from them. The Manobo can not endure 

 the long and frequent hikes, nor carry the heavy loads that he does, without this mild but effica- 

 cious restorative. 



» P&-VO. " Ta-bon-tabon (Parinarlum mindanatnsc Perkins). 



18 Ka-pu-yan or ka-pti-an. » Ting-tane. 



" LO-ka' or yu-ka. » Ba-di" or kam-pii. 



» Lin-um-bung . 



