I. THE BAGOBO. 



Synonyms: — (a) Guianga, Guanga, GuIvANGA 

 (6) Obo 

 (c) Tig dap a ya 

 (rf) Eto 



HABITAT. 



The west coast of Davao Gulf between Daliao and Digos is dotted 

 with small villages, the inhabitants of which are largely Bagobo who 

 have been converted to the Christian faith and have been induced to 

 give up their mountain homes and settle in towns. Back of this coast 

 line rise densely timbered mountain peaks, lateral spurs from which 

 often terminate in abrupt cliffs overlooking the sea. From other peaks 

 extensive grass covered plains slope gently down nearly to the water's 

 edge. Deep river canons cut between these mountains and across the 

 plains, giving evidence of active erosion for a long period of time. If 

 these mountain chains and river courses are followed back it is found 

 that they all radiate from one stupendous mass, the center of which 

 is Mt. Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines and reputed to 

 be an active volcano. Near to its summit is a deep fissure from which, 

 on clear mornings, columns of smoke or steam can be seen ascending, 

 while the first rays of the rising sun turn into gold, or sheets of white, 

 the fields of sulphur which surround the cone. 



Along the lower eastern and southern slopes of this mountain and its 

 tributary peaks live the wilder branch of this tribe, whose traditions, 

 religious observances, and daily life are closely related to the mani- 

 festations of latent energy in the old volcano. 



NUMBER. 

 The exact number who fall under this classification is not known. 

 Governor Bolton, who was intimately acquainted with the wild tribes 

 of the District, estimated their number at sixty-five hundred, but this 

 count did not include the sub -division here given as Obo. One enu- 

 meration, made by a Jesuit missionary, places the population at fifteen 

 thousand, while the Government report of 1900 gives them eighteen 

 thousand four hundred. The latter estimates are certainly excessive. 

 It is probable that they were determined by compiling the population 

 of villages reported to exist in the interior. 



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