146 THE MANOBOS OF MINDANAO— GARVAN IMm °ivo£ xxn£ 



THE ORIGIN OF WAR 



Fighting arises from one or more of the following causes : Vendettas, sexual infringements, 

 debts, and sometimes from a system of private seizure, by which the property or life of an inno- 

 cent third party is taken. The Manobo expresses the same thing in a simpler way by saying that 

 war has its origin in two things, namely "debt (blood debt included) and deceit." It has been 

 said that glory and the capture of slaves are the springs of war in Manoboland, but this, in my 

 opinion, is not true. Nor will I concede that war is undertaken for merely religious reasons. 

 It is my belief , verified by numerous observations made during several years of intimate dealing 

 with Manobos throughout eastern Mindanao, that fighting or killin g takes place in order to 

 redress a wrong or to collect a debt, whether it be of blood or of anything else. It is true that 

 many who have no grievance, take part merely for the sport, the spoil, and the glory of it, but 

 in no case that I know of was there wanting on the part of those who inaugurated the war a real 

 and reasonable motive. I have heard of cases of unjust warfare but my informants were enemies 

 of the parties against whom they complained and most probably were calumniating them. 



VENDETTAS 



Vendettas, which exist in many more enlightened countries of the world, are the most 

 common cause of war, or it would be better to say, of the continuance of war. 



There is no doubt, in my mind, but that the whole eastern quarter of Mindanao would 

 flame out into interclan warfare, were it not for the efficient form of government now established 

 there. I can bear witness to this fact, as I was cognizant of various raids that took place from 

 1905 to 1907 and of the fact that they were much less frequent from the close of 1907 till my 

 departure from the Agusan Valley in 1910. 



As in other countries, so in Man6boland, not only is the vendetta regarded as legitimate but 

 it is considered the duty of every relative of the slain to seek revenge for his death. Living in a 

 state of absolute independence from the restraints of outside government, as they had been up 

 to the beginning of the Christian conquest in 1877, the Man6bos, according to their own accounts, 

 passed a very unquiet existence. On account of blood feuds, most of them lived in tree houses 

 built in lofty inaccessible places, as I have been repeatedly told by old men. I have been assured 

 that if ever the Americans leave the valley, old blood scores will be settled, even should it be 

 necessary "to do without salt." 2 



The vendetta system was so prevalent during my first travels in eastern Mindanao that on 

 one occasion a Man6bo of the Tago River inquired of me whether there were any living relatives 

 of a certain Manobo of the upper Argawan who had killed his grandfather. Upon learning that 

 there were, he forthwith besought me to accompany him in a raid against the relatives of his 

 grandfather's murderers. 



Another instance will show the persistency with which the idea of revenge is entertained. 

 I noticed in a house on the Wa-wa River a strong rattan vine strung taut from a rafter to one of 

 the floor joists. My host, the owner of the house, waxed over-merry in his cups and was descant- 

 ing on his valiant feats in the pre-American days. He suddenly jumped up and twanged the 

 rattan, intimating that he might yet be able to take revenge on a certain enemy of his but that 

 if he were unable to do it, his son after him would strive to fulfill his teaching and that in any case 

 vengeance would be had before the vine rotted. Anyone familiar with the rattan knows its 

 durability, when protected from the influences of the sun and rain. 



This practice of stretching a green rattan in some part of the house and of vowing vengeance 

 "till it rot" is not uncommon, and is an indication of the deep, eternal desire for vengeance so 

 characteristic of the Manobos. 



Another practice, also indicative of the vendetta system, is the bequeathing from father to 

 son 3 of the duty of seeking revenge. I have never been present at the ceremony but have heard 

 over and over again that so-and-so received the inheritance and must endeavor to carry out the 



1 The enjoyment of salt seems to be, in the Manobo's estimation, one of the greatest blessings, if not the greatest, that he has derived from 

 civiliial ion. Yet he would be willing to forego the use of it, if it were possible for him to take revenge upon the slayers of his relatives. 

 ■ It is called ka-tud-li-6n. 



