academy of soencesj MEANS OF SUBSISTENCE 79 



Accidents are uncommon during the hunt, but I have seen several in which both men and 

 dogs were mangled by some fierce wild boar that on being wounded had proved a dangerous 

 enemy. 



Where several hunters have participated in the hunt, the game is divided in the forest 

 according to the number of dogs engaged. If the hunters are relatives of the same household, as 

 generally happens, the distribution is made after they reach home. The game is carried back by 

 one of the party, and, if there are other relatives in the settlement, they, too, receive a share. 

 Thus a wild boar or a deer is sufficient for just about one meal. 



HUNTING TABOOS AND BELIEFS 



The following taboos in connection with hunting are of interest: 



(1) The mention of such things as are displeasing to the local forest deities must be positively avoided, 

 such as the mention of salt, of fish that are not found in the region, and of the name of the quarry. 



(2) The meat must not be cooked with lard, garlic, or in any other way except in the orthodox Man6bo 

 manner of broiling it, or cooking it in water. 



(3) The meat mu6t not be salted and dried. 



(4) The game must not be skinned, but singed, for the former act would be one of rashness that would incur 

 divine displeasure and result in lack of success on the part of the dogs during all ensuing hunts. 



(5) The bones of the game must not be rapped on the floor to remove the marrow. They must be broken 

 with a bolo. 



(6) During the process of boiling the water in which the meat has been placed must be allowed to run 

 over. 



(7) The bones of the game must not be thrown into water. Such an act would, it is thought, bring sickness 

 on the transgressor or on a member of his family. 



(8) An unmarried man, who has had clandestine relations with a woman, may not partake of the meat 

 before he has made an expiatory offering to the owner of the dogs. This offering need not be of any great value 

 and is usually given in an informal way. The infringement of this taboo is said to be attended with the same 

 baneful effects on the hunting dogs as that mentioned above. 



(9) For the same reason a married man must make a compensatory offering of some little thing to his wife in 

 case he has been unfaithful to her. However, the majority of those whom I questioned knew of no such counter- 

 acting practice. 



A consideration of the above restrictions will explain the reluctance that the Manobo feels in 

 dividing his game with those who are not of his persuasion. He is afraid that the meat may be 

 cooked in lard or that some other regulation may be broken, thereby bringing down upon himself 

 the displeasure of the spirit owner of the game and upon his dogs ill luck or total lack of success 

 in future hunts. 



There are various traditional accounts of people who have been charmed 37 by deer and 

 never heard of again. It seems that, at first, they were approached by a circling herd of deer, 

 which they did not fear and allowed to come close. But among the deer was a transformed 

 busau or demon that advanced and devoured the solitary hunter. It is said that a dog will not 

 follow a deer of this description. 38 



OTHER METHODS OF OBTAINING GAME 



The ordinary bow is used but the arrow frequently varies from the regular fighting arrow 

 in being heavier, thicker, and not provided with feathering. An arrow with a forked point is 

 occasionally used for small birds, while for hornbills sharp spikes oipalma brava are used at times to 

 perforate their tough skins. Dart arrows are favorite for monkeys. The blowpipe (sum-pl-tan)'" 9 

 is not used. Little game is obtained by the bow and arrow, except when the hunter builds a 

 shelter in a fruit tree and picks off, unseen, such birds as come to feast themselves. 



"Birdlime," made out of the viscid sap of certain trees, is occasionally used to capture small 

 birds. 



*' Pag-u-sa-hin. 



86 Called ma-pai-yag. 



* 9 1 found a long slender blowpipe all over Mandayaland used for snooting birds, but it is Dot a very successful weapon, nor is it used in fighting. 



