74 THE MANOBOS OF MINDANAO— GARVAN [Memo {vo?xxiu; 



ing, it is said, to her chosen ones the names of all trespassers. In return for this she must be 

 frequently feasted from the beginning of the rice season up to the harvest, for at that tune her 

 duties cease, and she yields the field to Hakiadan. 



The officiant in the rice-planting ceremonies is either one or more family priests. The 

 victim is either a pig or a fowl, sacrificed in a special manner. The invocations consist of the 

 same interminable supplications, promises, and repetitions that are characteristic of all Manobo 

 prayers. One variation is observed during this ceremony. The fowl, on being killed, is thrown 

 on the ground and left to flutter around, thereby, it is thought, removing from the soil with its 

 blood such evils as might harm the rice or lessen its production. If a pig, however, has been 

 killed the blood lustration is performed in the ordinary way by smearing a near-by log, the priest 

 bidding the evil 6 of the earth begone. I have often been told that a special ceremony is necessary 

 at the time of rice planting. This ceremony is called hii-gad to sd-ya or hu-gad to sa which means 

 "to cleanse the sin." I am inclined to think that this rite is a purificatory one, as the name of 

 it indicates. I suppose that it is a secret expiation of such transgressions as might be punished 

 by a failure of the future crop. 



As in all undertakings of import, the entrails of the victim are carefully observed. Other 

 forms of divination, especially the egg omen, are employed to determine whether the supernal 

 powers approve the site or not. 



Among the offerings to Taphagan is a handful of unhulled rice taken from the last harvesting 

 and now set out in the religious shed. It is customary during this feast to give a little rice to such 

 animals and insects as are liable to harm the crop later on. Among these may be mentioned 

 rats, ricebirds, crows, parrakeets, 7 and ants. A little rice is set out on a log for them and they 

 are bidden welcome, and requested not to commit any future depredations. Nor are the omen 

 birds, prophets of plentiful crops, and the Tcuahdu, harbinger and companion of the rice crop, 

 forgotten. 



During the growth of the rice the above practices are observed from time to time. No 

 special rule is observed, but it may be said, in general, that the occurrence of ill omens, or the 

 suspicion of danger, urge the owner of the crop to feast Taphagan and thereby obtain immunity 

 from evil. The priest is the best judge as to the necessity of such things. 



THE CLEARING OF THE LAND 



The omens being favorable, the farmer, assisted by his relatives and friends, begins the 

 clearing without delay. It is essential that at least a little work be done in order to clinch the 

 bargain with the powers above, for should a delay occur the omens might go awry and necessitate 

 a repetition of the ceremonies and even an abandonment of the farm. I heard of several cases 

 where prospective farms were abandoned under these circumstances. 



The clearing, like all other agricultural operations, is done on the mutual-help system, 8 that 

 is, the farmer's relatives and friends unite to help him clear the land, which favor he and his 

 family is expected to return in kind. 



The average clearing does not comprise more than a few acres, and is completed ordinarily 

 in from two to five days. The first step 9 in the clearing process consists in cutting down the 

 underbrush and small trees. In this the men are assisted by the women and children who gather 

 these into heaps for burning. This may take only a few days, if no inauspicious omens occur, 

 but, according to my observation, it is seldom that some omen or other does not interfere with 

 the work. Thus a dead animal, such as a wild boar, or snake, found on the farm makes blood 

 lustrations necessary. The rumbling of thunder means a temporary discontinuance of the work, 

 and often a purificatory ceremony, of which I can give no details, becomes necessary and delays 

 the work. 



The next operation consists in the felling of trees. 10 For this purpose, scaffolds, usually of 

 bamboo, are erected around the tree at a height several feet above the buttresses of the tree 



• Ka-du-ut. » Called gat or gii-as. 



i Abukat. >° Gti-oa. 



' Pag-abai-yto-an. 



