78 THE MANOBOS OF MINDANAO— GARVAN [MEMO (vo?xxiit 



takes pride in the business, as may be observed by the trophies of wild-boar tusks and jaws 

 hung in his house. 



HUNTING WITH DOGS 



The dogs used are of the usual type seen throughout the Philippines, except that only the 

 better and pluckier or luckier ones are chosen for hunting. These are recognized by the size and 

 relative position of the nipples on the breast. It is said that from these and other marks the fate 

 of the dog can be foreseen. I was frequently instructed in these signs, but found it impossible 

 to master them for the simple reason that no two experts seemed to agree. Thus in one case, 

 where I consulted those versed in this matter, they respectively informed me that a certain dog 

 would be mangled 28 by a wild boar, swallowed by an alligator, 29 and devoured by a cobra, and 

 advised me not to purchase it. Good hunting dogs are often valued as highly as a human life 

 (30 pesos) and sometimes more so. I have seen dogs that seldom returned without having run 

 down a deer or wild boar. 



The ordinary Man6bo house has at least a few dogs, and these are allowed the liberty of the 

 house. They share the family mats, and sometimes have a special ladder provided for their 

 ascent and descent. Their food at the best is somewhat scanty. They have names such as 

 "Diguim," 30 "Sapas," 31 and are addressed by their masters with the greatest familiarity. A 

 dog, however, that howls in its sleep, is thought to forebode the death of its master or of some 

 inmate of the house. It must be sold, else the owner or one of his family might die. Dogs are 

 supposed to be messengers of the blood spirits 32 and to be under the protection of the god of 

 hunting, 33 for whom the following ceremony must be made by the hunter if he desires continued 

 success in the chase and the safety of his dogs from the perils thereof. 



OFFERING TO SUGUDUN, THE SPIRIT OF HUNTERS 



A triangular tray of bayug or of ilang-ilang wood decorated with palm fronds is made and 

 suspended from the rafters of the house. The owner of the dogs then calls upon Sugudun, offers 

 him a quid of betel nut, and promises to kill a fowl if only he will be so kind as to assist in getting 

 a wild boar or a deer the following day. The fowl must be a male and of a red color. This invo- 

 cation occupies the better part of an hour, and, when the hunter is satisfied that he has convinced 

 Sugudun of the necessity and expediency of being propitious, he slays the red fowl in his honor. 

 The blood is caught in a sacred saucer 34 and placed upon the oblation tray u for the special 

 entertainment of the hunting deity. In one case I saw the blood anointment 3fl made on the prin- 

 cipal dog in order to remove from him some evil influence that he was thought to possess. After 

 the fowl is cooked, a piece of the meat, a little cooked rice, and a few eggs are put upon the sacri- 

 ficial tray and left there. 



THE HUNT 



On one of the ensuing days, provided he has observed no ill omen, the hunter starts off, 

 usually with one or more companions, for the selected hunting grounds. As the forests of the 

 Agusan Valley teem with wild boar and deer, the hunters usually do not have to travel far before 

 the dogs get on the scent. This they announce by their continuous yelping. The hunt then 

 begins. The game strives to elude its pursuers by constantly doubling on its path, so that the 

 hunters do not have such a long run as might be imagined. They never cease to encourage 

 their dogs with a peculiar monotonous cry that resembles a long-drawn u sound. The dogs keep 

 on the heels of their prey and worry and harass it with repeated snaps and bites till it finally 

 comes to bay with its back to a tree. The hunters at once become aware of this by the change 

 in the cry of the dogs, and, accordingly, hasten their steps. Upon arriving at the scene, they 

 cautiously steal up behind the game and put it to death with their spears. 



J8 Pan-ti-Q&n-on. 33 Sugtidun. 



" Si-bad-&n-<m to bu-a-Ja (buida). '< Apti-jan. 



3»" Black." » Su-giwan. 



3i "Cotton." » Lim-vat. 

 3i Tagbit-sau. 



