198 THE MANOBOS OF MINDANAO— GAR VAN [u * uo ™ouxxm. 



DEFINITE LOCALITIES TENANTED BY FOREST SPIRITS 



There are in the vicinity of Talak6gon two localities where tagbdnua are said to reign. 

 One is called Agibawa and the other Kasawangan. Both of them are remote timberless places 

 in the center of swampy regions. In the former the reigning deity had constructed a house, so 

 I was told by one who claimed to have seen the posts while the house was still in the process 

 of construction. According to other reports this deity had a herd of carabaos whose footprints 

 had been seen by several of my friends and acquaintances. 13 



The Kasawangan district was my hunting ground for nearly a year and I had occasion to 

 observe the character and habits of its deity, as interpreted to me by Man6bo guides and com- 

 panions. 



It was with the very greatest fear and reluctance that my first guide introduced me to the 

 marshland. No sooner had I set foot upon it than it began to rain and my guide requested 

 permission to return. In answer to an inquiry as to why he wished to leave me he proffered the 

 information that he was afraid of the tagbdnua, who was evidently displeased, for had not this 

 deity already sent down a shower of rain? The guide then went on to say that if we persisted in 

 transgressing on the marshland some greater evil was sure to follow. As I told him that we would 

 make friends with the diety he consented to remain with me. 



After all preparations for camping had been completed, my companion set out an offering of 

 betel nut on a rude stand and addressing the invisible owner of the marshland, requested him to 

 accept the betel nut and not to be displeased. My guide offered in his own defense that he had 

 come into this region unwillingly. 



After a few hours' vain endeavors to procure game, my companion made another donation, 

 requesting the lord of the marsh to forego his ill will and permit us to get a wild boar. His 

 prayers were unavailing for no game was forthcoming. When I lost my compass shortly after- 

 wards my guide assured me that the misfortune was due to the persistent ill will of the tagbdnua 

 toward me. 



I continued to visit this region week after week and had considerable success in getting game, 

 but it was attributed, partly to the fact that the lord of the marsh had taken a liking to me, and 

 partly to the offerings of betel nut and eggs made by my Man6bo boys. 



Illustrations similar to this of the fear and deference displayed toward this invisible ruler of 

 solitary places might be multiplied indefinitely. Suffice it to say, however, that the belief in 

 this class of spirits is widespread throughout all tribes of eastern Mindanao, Bisayas M included. 



WORSHIP OF THE FOREST SPIRITS 



The existence of a tagbdnua in any particular locality is determined by a priest who, through 

 his protecting deities, learns the name 16 of the spirit, ascertains the cause of his displeasure on a 

 given occasion, and prescribes the offerings to be made to him either for reasons of propitiation or 

 of supplication. 



Respect must be shown toward the tagbdnua in various ways. His territory must not be 

 trespassed upon, nor any of his property, such as trees, interfered with unless some little offering 

 is made. His name, if known, as also the names of fish and of crocodiles, and of other things 

 which are not indigenous to the region, must in no wise be mentioned. A violation of this taboo 

 would be followed by a storm or by some other evil indicative of the tagbdnua's displeasure, unless 

 immediate measures were taken to appease his anger. Again, if one points the finger at places 

 like a mountain where dwells a tagbdnua, the displeasure of its owner is aroused and the trans- 

 gressor is liable to feel the spirit's anger. It was explained to me by several Man6bos that point- 

 ing at the dwelling place of these spirits might result in petrifaction of the arm. 



" These carabaos were evidently the remnant, or the offspring, o( a small herd that escaped to the woods in the time of the Philippine 

 insurrection. 



" Among the Bisayas who come from Bobol, the respect paid the tagbdnua amounts almost to worship. 

 11 Only the priests may pronounce the name. 



