120 THE MANOBOS OF MINDANAO— GARVAN [MEUO ™ouxxm, 



It is generally believed that the war chiefs are provided with antidotes 17 against the Tcometdn. 

 In fact, several assured me that they possessed them, but they were unwilling to enter into any 

 details. I once saw a little bottleful of strange-looking herbs and water sold for f*2.50. It was 

 said to be an antidote against the particular species of Icometdn, which, on being placed in the 

 path, would affect the one for whom it was intended when he passed the spot. 



A piece of lodestone, 18 or even an ordinary toy magnet, is thought, in certain localities, to 

 act as a safeguard against divers kinds of evil charms. 



OTHER MAGIC MEANS 



I found a prevalent belief in the existence of an aphrodisiac 19 which is said to consist of wax 

 made by a small insect called H-ut, and of the ashes of various trees. The secret of compounding 

 it is known to very few. There is a persistent rumor that this was first learned from the Mama- 

 nuas, 20 who are supposed to be very proficient in the making and use of it even to this day. 

 If a little of the composition is put on the dress of a woman, or, better still, if a little packet of it is 

 attached to her girdle charms she will become attached to the man who placed it there and will 

 aid him, as far as it can be done, in his suit for her hand. 



There is also a charm which is said to produce an aversion or dislike between those who had 

 formerly been friends. 



Bezoar stones are hard substances, of a dark color, and vary in size from a pea to a chestnut. 

 They are said to be found in various trees and plants, 21 and animals and fishes such as the monkey 

 and eel. 



Their properties are both medicinal and magic. Thus the bezoar stones from three different 

 plants are supposed to be efficacious in the hour of birth, but, at the same time, in all the doings of 

 fife they give the fortunate possessor success over his rival. Hence they are called panddug, that 

 is, they will enable one to get ahead of or beat another. There is a bezoar stone from the banti 

 tree that gets its owner to a place more quickly than his rival. 



BODILY AILMENTS PROCEEDING FROM SUPERNATURAL CAUSES 



Sickness due to capture of the soul by an inimical spirit. — When a malady is of such a nature 

 that it can not be diagnosed, or of so serious a character that fear is entertained for the recovery of 

 the patient, it is ascribed to the maleficence of evil spirits, and supernatural means are resorted to 

 in order to save the captured soul from their spirit clutches. For this purpose the priest inter- 

 cedes with his divine tutelars, and prevails upon them, by offerings and promises, to rescue the 

 captive. If the ailment is attributed to the war divinities, then the warrior chief becomes the 

 officiant and, after appeasing the angry spirit with a blood offering, secures the release of the 

 unfortunate soul. 



Epidemics attributed to the malignancy of sea demons. — Epidemics of cholera and smallpox are 

 thought to be due directly to evil spirits who bring the diseases from their faraway sea haunts. 



It is said that friendly deities and war spirits of the settlement announce from the lofty moun- 

 tain heights the approach of these pestiferous demons. Thus, I was assured by many in the 

 Kasilaian River district, that Mount Tatamba on a tributary of the Laminga River gave out a 

 loud booming noise before the epidemic of 1 903-4. The same is said of Mount Mag-diudta by the 

 Sulibao people. Be that as it may, those who live along the main rivers scurry away on the 

 approach of contagion into the depths of the forest or upon the heights of the mountains, and do 

 not return until they feel assured that all danger is past. I was a personal witness of this among 

 the upper Agusan Man6bos, where I found a settlement, more than one year after the appearance 

 of a contagious disease, still ensconced in the heart of the forest a few miles away from all water. 22 



" Sim-pa. 

 "» Bi-to bi-ni. 

 » Called Au-pai. 



» It is strange that the more advanced tribes in eastern Mindanao attribute a knowledge of magic methods to inferior ones. I have been in- 

 formed that both Mamanuas and Mangguangans are more expert in the manufacture and administration of charms than other tribes. 

 " Such as the a-nis-tag, the (li-oo, the tub-li. 

 » The inhabitants lived on the water that exuded from a tree known as ba-si-kung. 



