CHAPTER XI 



WEAPONS AND IMPLEMENTS 

 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 



There is no knowledge of a former use of stone implements in Manoboland. During my 

 peregrinations throughout eastern Mindanao I saw no stone implements except the ordinary 

 whetstone, so universally used for sharpening steel weapons and knives, the cooking stones 

 upon which the pots are placed, and the flint used in the production of fire. It is true that 

 there is a common rumor as to the existence of stone missiles hurled in wrath by Anitan 1 at 

 irreverent mortals, but I have never seen these tokens of divine anger. 



Weapons and implements will be subdivided, the former into offensive and defensive 

 weapons, and the latter into agricultural, hunting, and fishing implements. 



OFFENSIVE WEAPONS 



THE BOW AND ARROW 



As the use of the bow and arrow in the Philippines is generally considered by ethnologists 

 to indicate Negrito influence, the subject requires more than passing notice, especially as the 

 geographical distribution of this primitive weapon extends to not only every non-Christian 

 tribe and group east of the central Cordillera of Mindanao, except perhaps the Banuaons, 2 

 but, according to various rumors, to the Manobos occupying the central portion of Mindanao 

 in the subprovince of Bukidnon. 



The bow is a piece of palma brava, 3 or less frequently of bamboo 4 varying in length between 

 1.2 and 2 meters and in thickness between 7 and 12 millimeters. In the center it is about 30 

 millimeters broad and gradually tapers to a breadth of about 12 millimeters at each end. Except 

 on the upper Agiisan 6 no means are taken to strengthen this stock by winding rattan around 

 it, unless the bamboo or wood shows indications of splitting, in which case a girdle of plaited 

 rattan obviates the danger. No attempt at ornamentation is made except the smoothing and 

 polishing of the wood. In the case of bamboo stocks, the projecting pieces of the joints are 

 not removed on the proximal side of the bow. At about 2 or 3 centimeters from the extrem- 

 ities, two notches are made to hold the string. At the extremity, which we will call the upper 

 one, from its being held up during use, one often sees a few concentric incised circles in one of 

 which is set a little ring of steel, iron, or brass wire. The object of this is to increase the 

 twang of the bow upon the release of the arrow. 



The bowstring is nearly always a strip of rattan about 3 millimeters broad. This is attached 

 to the lower end of the stock by a simple series of loops. To the upper extremity it is attached 

 by a loop that slips along the stock into the upper notch when the bow is strung for shooting. 

 It is needless to remark that the bowstring is about 2 or 3 centimeters shorter than the stock, 

 which in the moment of stringing must be bent to enable the upper extremity of the string to 

 reach the upper notch and thereby acquire a sufficient tension to propel the arrow. 



Arrows are of several kinds according to the purpose for which they are used, such as 

 hunting, fishing, and fighting. Those intended for hunting and fishing will be described in 



' One of the powerful spirits of the sky world. 



' I am very much inclined to think that it exists among them as well. 

 8 An-d-hau. 



* Of the species called pa4ung. 



« Mandaya and Mafigguangan bows are smaller and neater than Manobo bows. They are made commonly of a piece of betel-nut palm and 

 have graceful lashings of rattan strips on the stock for the purpose of imparting strength thereto. 



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