academy or sckncm] MALEFICENT SPIRITS 199 



The occupation of a new site is almost invariably the occasion for an invocation to the 

 tagbdnua, especially if the site be in the vicinity of a balete tree tenanted by him, for to occupy the 

 place without obtaining his good will and permission would expose the would-be occupant to 

 numberless vicissitudes. During hunting and trapping operations supplication is resorted to, 

 especially when the hunter finds that game is scarce. 16 



In case it is decided by the priest, or even suspected by an individual that an adversity, such 

 as bad weather or sudden floods, is a result of a tagbdnua's animosity, and that the ordinary 

 simple offerings are not sufficient to placate him, then a white chicken must be killed and the 

 regular rites peculiar to a blood sacrifice must be performed. 



It is rare, however, that a Manobo has so far forgotten himself as to drawdown the resentment 

 of this kindly deity, and render propitiation necessary. I, however, witnessed a case wherein it 

 was considered expedient to placate his anger; I was requested to take the necessary steps, as I 

 was considered the object of his wrath. My Man6bo oarsmen desired to discontinue the journey 

 at an early hour of the afternoon, but for several reasons I wished to reach a certain point before 

 nightfall, so a little ruse was resorted to. I granted their request to rest and they very promptly 

 went to sleep. Not long afterwards I struck a few blows on the outriggers with a piece of iron. 

 The Manobo could explain it in no other way except that the local tagbdnua had been displeased 

 with my demeanor, for had I not, they said, gone into the forest in the vicinity of his arboreal 

 dwelling and, notwithstanding their advice to the contrary, given vent to loud and disrespectful 

 vociferations. As we were in the vicinity of the balete tree it was unanimously decided to push 

 on. At the next few stopping places the ruse was repeated, so that no doubt was any longer 

 entertained as to the supposed cause of the occurrence, the wrath of the tagbdnua. Several little 

 incidents, such as striking a hidden snag, and the increase of the flood, both of which were also 

 attributed to this spirit's malign influence, heightened their fear. They finally begged me to 

 stop for the purpose of sacrificing one of my chickens to the offended deity. We finally reached 

 the desired spot and the supposed supernatural sounds were heard no longer. 



it in tbe chapter on bunting, the various observances on such occasions have been described. 



