academt of science^ WEAPONS AND IMPLEMENTS 89 



A lance of another style is common among the highland Manobos of the central Cordillera, 

 and is not infrequently found among the Manobos of Kantilan and Tago. Though not so 

 striking in dimensions and in general appearance, it is preferred by the Manobo, because it is 

 said to cause a more severe wound and because it is less liable to have the head detached when 

 driven through the floor or wall of a house. Its head is much narrower at its broadest part 

 than the one just described, is not so long, and nearly always tapers to a point. It is with- 

 out any shoulders. It never has the conical steel socket that the Mandaya lance sometimes 

 has, is always straight edged, and is set into the shaft in identically the same manner as the 

 socketless Mandaya weapon. Another point of distinction is the decorative scallop that 

 runs parallel to the edges of the head on each side. There is very seldom any decorative work 

 within the periphery of these scallops. 



THE DAGGER AND ITS SHEATH 



A weapon, whose distribution among Manobos is limited almost exclusively to Man6bos 

 south of the 8° of latitude, is the Mandaya dagger, of Mandaya workmanship, and indicative 

 of Mandaya influence. 16 



Its component parts are a thin laminated piece of steel from 15 to 25 centimeters long 

 with a thin, tapering rod somewhat shorter, projecting in the line of the axis, and a hilt of landti 

 through which the projection of the blade passes. It is carried in a sheath which is held at 

 the wearer's right side by a girdle. 



The blade is two-edged, widening from a sharp point to two shoulders from 3 to 4 centi- 

 meters apart, whence the edges incurve gradually and finally end in two projecting spurs 3 or 4 

 centimeters apart. The rod for the reception of the hilt extends from this point along the line 

 of the axis for a distance of from 6 to 8 centimeters. 



From time to time one finds a blade that is inlaid with tiny pieces of brass or silver, but 

 there is never any other kind of ornamentation. 



The handle is of a type that is unique, as far as I know, in the Philippine Islands. In 

 using the dagger the body of the hilt is seized in the right hand, the index finger is inserted between 

 one horn of the crescent and the central steel tang, and the thumb between the latter and the 

 other point of the crescent, while the other three fingers hold the weapon within the palm. This 

 method seems clumsy, but nevertheless it is the orthodox way of holding it. Fastened to the 

 right side of the wearer in a more or less horizontal position and with the handle projecting 

 forward, it is always at the owner's disposal for prompt and deadly action, especially so as only 

 a mere thread or two of abakd fiber running from the handle to the under part of the sheath 

 retains the weapon in its sheath. 



The handle is usually strengthened at the neck with plaited rings of nito fiber and may 

 have ornamental silver work, both at that point and on the horns, or even at times on the 

 whole outer surface of it. 



The sheath consists of two pieces of wood of an elongated rectangular shape, spreading out 

 at the extremity. Strips of rattan wound at intervals hold the two pieces together and a paint 

 of blended beeswax and pot black is ordinarily employed to give a finish to it. But occasionally 

 one sees bands of beaten silver at the head of the sheath, and, less frequently, a profusion of 

 beautiful, artistic silverwork set over the whole sheath. 17 



Manobos in general, with the exception of those who live on the upper Agiisan, take but 

 little care of their weapons, except to sharpen them. In this respect they are very unlike the 

 Mandayas and the Debabaons, who are most conscientious and incessant in the care of their 

 bolos, lances, and daggers. They keep these weapons burnished by rubbing them on a board 

 that has been covered with the dust from a pulverized plate, or if they have rusted, by filing 

 them with an imported file. A final touch is given to them by rubbing them with the leaves of 



18 It is the Mandaya tribal weapon that never leaves its wearer's side by night or by day, on the trail or in the house, whenever there is appre- 

 hension of danger. 



" The steelwork and silverwork are nearly always the production of Mandaya smiths living in and beyond the southeastern Cordillera, though 

 on the Agusan there are a few silversmiths. 



