September, 1913. Wild Tribes of Davao District — -Cole. 89 



The knives and other implements which have been used in the 

 fields are laid on a large basket filled with rice, "in order that they may 

 eat, and, therefore, have no cause to injure their owners." Another 

 large dish of rice is set aside as a special offering. In some cases this 

 is taken out to the fields, where it is eaten by the wife, or wives of the 

 host; but in Cibolan it is kept in the house until the next morning, 

 when it is eaten by all the members of the family. The ceremonial 

 eating of this rice causes the supply to last longer and assures abundant 

 rains for the succeeding crop. Part of the food from the dishes is 

 placed in the tambara and shrines, and then all the guests are permitted 

 to feast and make merry. Unlike most Bagobo ceremonies this one 

 lacks the music of the agongs,' for only bamboo guitars, flutes, and the 

 bolang-bolang are permitted at this time. The last named instrument 

 is made by placing a board on a rice mortar; the women gather around 

 it with their wooden pestles and beat a rythmical tattoo. This con- 

 cludes the festival proper, but many guests will remain for two or three 

 days to enjoy the hospitality of their host. 



On the third morning after the festival the familv and some friends 



'6 



will celebrate BagkEs "the tying together." The dishes in which food 

 was offered are tied together and are carried to the rice field where, 

 with great solemnity, the little dish in the parobanlan is removed and 

 placed among the others, while the people tell it that the other plates 

 have come to take it away, but that it will be returned to its home the 

 following year. The family goes back to the village in silence and after 

 tying all the dishes together place them in the rice granary. 



In the Bagobo settlement at Digos, the women hold still another 

 festival following the cutting of the rice. This is known as Gomeng 

 ka taragomi, or bitinbagdybe. In the main it resembles the ceremony 

 of similar name, which the women of Malilla hold on the second day 

 of GlnEm (See page 1 1 1). A bamboo pole decked with leaves and green 

 fruit of the areca palm is placed in the center of a room and is surrounded 

 with cooked food. After this has been offered to the spirits, it is eaten 

 by the guests who then indulge in dancing about the decorated pole. 

 This generally lasts eight days, but in one instance the festivities con- 

 tinued for sixteen days and nights. The explanation given is that 

 "the women wish to show Taragomi and the Xitos (anttos) how happy 

 they are because of the good harvest, for when they see this they will 

 be pleased and will help again next year." 



1 Copper gongs. 



