AawExr or soencks] war> ITS ORIGIN INCEPTION, ETC. 149 



PREPARATIONS FOR WAR 



The remote preparations for war consist in locating the house of the enemy and in getting 

 all information, even the minutest, as to the trails, position of traps and bamboo spears. All 

 this must be done through a third party, preferably someone who has a grievance to satisfy, and 

 may require months or even years, for the Manobo is a cautious fighter and will take no unneces- 

 sary risks. During all this time the aggrieved party is enlisting, in a quiet, diplomatic way, the 

 good will of as many as he can trust. If he has no recognized warrior chief on his side he must 

 by all means secure the services of at least one, even though it should be necessary to offer him 

 a material compensation and in divers other ways gain his good will and cooperation. 



The immediate preparations consist in sending out a few of the nearest male relatives 

 several days or even a week before the intended attack to reconnoiter the settlement of the enemy. 

 On the return of this party word is sent to those who have agreed to join the expedition and a day 

 and place are appointed for meeting. A pig and a supply of rice are procured and on the appointed 

 day the relatives and friends of the leader assemble at the trysting place, which was, in nearly 

 every instance that I witnessed or heard of, a house somewhat remote from the settlement. 



With a warrior chief for officiant certain religious rites 8 are performed. The pig is partaken 

 of in the usual style and, if the omens are favorable, all is ready. But should the omens portend 

 evil, the expedition is put off to a more auspicious occasion. In one instance that passed under 

 my personal observation the departure of the warriors was postponed for several days by reason 

 of inauspicious omens. I have heard of some cases in which the war party returned after several 

 days' march in order to await more reassuring signs of success. 



No particular demonstrations of sorrow are manifested by the women when the war party 

 sets out. Revenge is of more importance than love. Moreover, it is seldom that the casualties 

 on the side of the aggressors amount to more than one, so that no fear is entertained and all are 

 sanguine as to the outcome, for have not the omens been consulted and have they not portended so 

 many deaths and so many captives? 



The band glides off silently and stealthily into the forest. A war chief, if one has been willing 

 to join the expedition, usually leads, accompanied, it is believed, by his invisible war deities. A 

 little ahead, just the distance of a whisper, the Manobos say, strides Mandayaflgan, the giant 

 and the hero of the old, old days. All ears are alert for the turtledove's cry, and when its pro- 

 phetic voice is heard, every arm is up and points with closed fist in the direction of it. But itis 

 only its direction with regard to the leader that is considered. If this is unfavorable, the march 

 is discontinued till the next day, but, if favorable, the party proceeds, selecting, as much as 

 possible, tortuous and seldom trodden trails. 



The following are some of the taboos that must be observed by the party while en route. 



(1) They may speak to no one met on the trail. 



(2) Nothing once taken in the hand may be thrown away until night or until arriving at the enemies' settle- 

 ment. Thus a piece of a branch caught in the hand and broken off accidentally must be retained. 



(3) They may eat nothing that is found on the trail. Thus killing game is prohibited. I heard of one man 

 who had been wounded in an ambush arranged by the enemy on the trail. He assured me that his ill luck was 

 due to his having taken a fish dropped by a fish eagle. 9 



(4) The food taken on the trail must be placed upon one shield, preferably that of the leader, and thence 

 distributed to the members of the party. 



(5) The wives of the warriors are forbidden to indulge in unnecessary shouting and noise, and to remain 

 within the house as far as possible till the return of their husbands. 



(6) No cooking may be done on the trail till the settlement of the enemy is reached. This does not mean 

 that food may not be cooked in a house along the trail. On the contrary, I was assured that on a long trip it is 

 customary to call at the house of some friendly person and to make a sacrifice, at the same time taking further 

 observations from the intestines of the victim. I was an eyewitness of this proceeding on one occasion and did 

 not fail to observe also with what relish the war party replenished the inner man. 



Besides taboos, there are a number of evil omens that must be guarded against. Thus, if a 

 snake were to cross the path, or any insect such as a bee or a scorpion were to bite or sting one of 

 the party, the return of the whole number would be necessary unless they were too far advanced 



» See Pt. IV. Cta. XXVI. > Man-di-git. 



