academy of sciences] WEAPONS AND INSTRUMENTS 91 



equal to one-half of the shield length, forming to the eye an elongated rectangle, in the center of 

 which is the knob. The remaining quarter of the shield is hyperbolic in form with a small lozenge- 

 shaped protrusion at the focus. The upper edge of the shield is not quite straight, an ornamental 

 effect being produced by slight curves. In the center of the upper edge is a very small projection 

 or sometimes a round incision, that might serve as an eyehole. 



Another difference in this type of shield is the addition of ornamental toothlike tracings. 

 These serrations are done with beeswax and pot black, and are ordinarily set in groups of four at 

 right angles to and along the central and the lateral scallops. 



The last distinction is the more noticeable longitudinal bend which the Mandaya type has as 

 compared with the Man6bo style, the top and the bottom being inflected uniformly inward at an 

 angle of about 15° to the vertical. 



Among the Mandayas it is interesting to note that a broad shield is looked down upon as 

 indicative of cowardice, and that a narrow shield is considered evidence of valor in its owner. 



In using the shield it is held in the left hand by the grasp that is located in the inner part of 

 the hollow knob in the center. It is always held in an upright position, the transverse piece being 

 on top, at the left side of the warrior, who never presents the front of his person to the enemy. 

 To protect the feet and legs he must crouch down. 



I was a constant witness of mimic encounters, and occasionally of what appeared to be the 

 preliminaries to more serious affairs, and can bear witness to the skill displayed in the manipula- 

 tion of the shield. The rapidity with which the warrior can move about, now advancing, now 

 retreating, now thrusting, now parrying, and all the time concealing the whole of his person except 

 a part of the head and one eye, is a marvel. 



ARMOR 



Another article used for defensive purposes is the abakd armor. 23 Whenever the warrior has 

 been able to procure a piece of Mandaya skirt fabric, he sews it into an ordinary coat with sleeves 

 and, in lieu of imported buttons, uses little slivers of bamboo or wood to keep it closed. When, 

 however, the Mandaya cloth is not to be had, his female relatives braid for him a number of multi- 

 colored cords of abakd fiber, 6 millimeters broad, which are sewn together in the form of an Amer- 

 ican or European coat and answer the purpose perhaps better than the Mandaya cloth. 



This armor is intended to resist arrows, and is said to be efficient when the wearer is at 

 long range. At short range, however, it helps only to lessen the penetration, as I had occasion 

 to observe after an attack on the upper Agusan, in which one of my warrior friends was wounded 

 on the shoulder by an arrow. A band of Debabaons went to make a demonstration at the house 

 of one of their enemies on the River Nabuk. The particular warrior chief referred to, desiring 

 to initiate his young son into the art of warfare, carried him on his back to the scene of the 

 demonstration. After surrounding the house, the attacking party broke out into the war cry and 

 challenged their foes to a hand-to-hand combat. The surrounded party replied with a shower 

 of arrows, one of which struck the chief on the shoulder. As he explained to me, he was so 

 solicitous about guarding his child that he exposed his person and received the arrow in his 

 shoulder. The point, he said penetrated to a depth of about 3 centimeters. 



I once saw another form of protective clothing on the River Argawan. It was a very long 

 strip of cotton cloth which, it was said, was used for wrapping around and around the body 

 before an attack. This article, as I later ascertained, was of Banuaon manufacture and use. 24 



TRAPS AND CALTROPS 



The dwellings of Manobos who five in actual fear of attack are always surrounded by traps 

 and by bamboo caltrops of one or two varieties. These form an efficient and common means 

 of defense. 



n Urn botung. 



" As a further protection in war there is used, it is said, a conical piece of wood on which the hair is bound up. I never saw this device in 

 use and doubt if it is employed commonly by Manobos. It was reported to me as also being of Banuaon origin and make. 



