CHAPTER XVI 



SOCIAL ENJOYMENTS 

 INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC 



THE DRUM 



The drum is the instrument of universal use in Man6boland. Wherever one travels, by 

 day or by night, its measured booming may be heard. It is made out of a piece of a palm tree, 

 by removing the core and bark. It is ordinarily about 25 centimeters high by 20 centimeters in 

 diameter. The top and bottom consist, in nearly every case, of a piece of deerskin, 1 from which 

 the fur has been scraped, a little fringe of it, however, being left around the edges to prevent the 

 hide from slipping when stretched. The stretching is effected by means of rattan rings or 

 girdles, very often covered with cloth, and just large enough to fit the cylindrical body of the 

 drum. A few blows with a piece of wood forces these girdles down the sides of the drum, thereby 

 stretching the heads perfectly tight so as to give the drum the proper tone. After a certain 

 amount of heating over the fire the drum is ready for use. No attempts at ornamentation are 

 made, the heavy ends of the hide being left protruding in an ungainly way. 



The drum is played at either end, and in certain tunes at both ends. The left hand serves 

 to bring out the notes corresponding to our bass. The drum is tapped, with more or less force 

 and rapidity, on an upturned head with the left hand, while the right hand with a piece of wood, 

 preferably a little slat of bamboo, raps out the after beat. Manobo men, women, and children 

 can play the drum and mention the names of from 20 to 50 rhythms, each one of which is to 

 their trained ears so different that it can be recognized at once. The rhythms are varied by the 

 number of beats of the right hand to one of the left, and by the different degrees of speed with 

 which the tune is played. The general beat may be compared to the dactyl of ancient Greek 

 and Roman versification. The left hand plays the long syllable, if we may so speak, while the 

 right plays the two short ones. The combinations, however, are as intricate as the versification 

 just referred to. 



As the nomenclature 2 used in speaking of the tunes indicates, the various forms of drum 

 music are based on imitations of animals and birds, or are adapted to certain occasions, such as 

 the war roll signaling for help. 



To one who hears Manobo drum music for the first time, it sounds dull and monotonous, 

 but as the ear grows accustomed to the roll the compass can be detected and the skill of the 

 drummer becomes apparent. Now loud and then soft, now fast and then slow, the tune is rattled 

 off in perfect measure and with inspiring verve. As one travels through the crocodile-infested 

 lake region in the middle Agusan on a calm night, the Man6bo drums may be heard tattooing 

 from distant settlements. They produce a solemn but weird impression on the listener. 



THE GONG 



The gong 3 is of the small imported type and is purchased from Bisaya traders. As these 

 gongs, when new, have several ornamental triangular figures on the front, the Man6bo is taught 

 to value them at as many pesos minus one as the gong has figures. This gives a gong that 

 cost originally about 2 pesos a value of 4 or 5 pesos. 



i Monkey and lizard skins are made use of in rare instances, and I have heard it said that the skin of a dog makes a vei y fine drumhead. 



s The following are some of the names of drum-tunes: Sin-ak-ai-sd-kai (significant of the movement of a raft or canoe); kum-bd-kum-bd to u-sd 

 (imitative of the sporting of a deer) ; kin-am-pi-l4n (indicative of the flourishing of the Moro weapon called kampilan) ; Min-an-dd-ya, an adaptation 

 from the Mandayas; bo-luty-bd-tuflQ, ka-ta-hud-dn, ya-mut-yd-mui, pa-di-dit, pin-dn-dan, pa-tug-da-duk ii-baUg, min-aHg-gu-dHg-an, (in-iim-pi, 

 ma-sauQ-Qu-it, to-mdn-do, in-dg-kui, pa-du-au, bin-dg-bad, pai-um-bug, pa-dug-kuq, tum-bd-lig, maHg-ud. 



' A-guitg, 



129 



