acaour or serocu] WAR> ITS ORIGIN, INCEPTION, ETC. 153 



It is said that, as a rule, the aggressors are victorious, for rarely do they attack an enemy 

 that is too strongly entrenched. They prefer to wait, even for years, till an occasion favorable 

 in time, place, and circumstances, presents itself. It is only under special provocation, such 

 as continual attacks by their enemy, that they attack him while he is in a strong position and 

 then more with a view to destroying his crops than with the hope of securing a victim. 



THE CAPTURE OF SLAVES 



The capture of slaves is one of the important features of the expedition. A slave becomes 

 the property of the captor, although a certain number are very frequently given in payment 

 to the warrior chief or chiefs who were engaged to help the raiding party. This number depends 

 on a previous agreement. The age of the captive decides whether he or she will be taken into 

 captivity or slain on the spot. As a rule, all but children under the age of puberty are despatched 

 there and then as they are liable to escape sooner or later if taken captive. However, I was 

 assured by several warrior chiefs that the better looking unmarried girls are not killed, but are 

 kept to be married, or to be retailed in marriage, thereby bringing a handsome remuneration 

 to the owner. It must not be supposed by the reader that this implies anything inconsistent 

 with sexual morality, for these female slaves are treated with as much delicacy as if they were 

 the captor's daughters. To the numerous inquiries that I made on this point, there was only 

 one reply — that sexual intercourse with them was foul and would make the offender ga-hd-an. 1 * 

 A warrior who would be guilty of violating this taboo would never, it is thought, attain the 

 rank of warrior chief. Should anyone of the warriors desire to marry his captive he must go 

 through a purificatory 17 process, the details of which I am unable to furnish. 



The above taboo goes even further. Not only is the person of the living female captives 

 to be respected but also that of the dead, in so far as it is considered improper to remove from 

 their persons any object such as bracelets or hair. Men's bodies, however, are rifled of every- 

 thing, even their hair, and are then unmercifully hacked and hewn. 



THE RETURN OF THE WARRIORS 



If the war party is unsuccessful, they return hastily and cautiously. It frequently happens 

 that the enemy take a short cut, being better acquainted with the geography of the region, 

 and lay an ambush at a suitable point. For this reason a close watch is kept on the return 

 home; a few warriors take the lead, and where a beaten trail is followed, a few keep guard on each 

 side at a distance of several yards, to avoid falling into an ambush. When the party arrive at 

 their settlement each repairs to his own house. A thousand and one reasons are assigned for 

 failure, but never is it attributed to a falseness of the omens — anything but that. Should 

 the band, however, have been victorious, or have brought about the death of the chief enemy 

 at least, no words can describe their joy and jubilation. The woods reecho with their wild 

 screams and the weird ululations of the battle cry. Each one provides himself with a bamboo 

 trumpet and makes the forest resound with its deep boom. The captives that offer any resist- 

 ance, are dragged along, or even killed, if they become too troublesome. Upon nearing a friendly 

 settlement the din is redoubled and the whole settlement turns out to welcome the victors. 

 But when their home settlement is reached the scene is indescribable. I witnessed an occasion 

 of this kind. Before the party came into sight the bamboo trumpets could be heard, first faintly 

 and then increasing in strength. As soon as the expectant women and the few men who had 

 remained in the village had satisfied themselves that their relatives and friends were returning, 

 drums and gongs were beaten in answer. The young men and boys rushed out and crossing 

 the river on their rafts or in their boats dashed into the forest to meet the conquerors. Even 

 the women became hilarious and gave vent to loud cries. For a few minutes before the appear- 

 ance of the party the war cry could be heard and when they came into view on the other side 

 of the river the din was indescribable. The gong and drum were brought down to the bank and 



19 1 have never yet been able to grasp the significance of this word. It is used by Bisayas in the form hi-ga-b&'-an, which has apparently a 

 very similar meaning. 

 " HH-vad. 



