September, i 9 i 3 - Wild Tribes of Davao District — Coee. ioi 



time the mat containing the gifts is spread on the floor and the offerings 

 are again called to the attention of the spirits, who are urged to look 

 to the welfare of the child. Should the infant be ailing, or cry a great 

 deal, it is a sign that the spirits are displeased with the name given to 

 it and another will be substituted; however, this does not seem to be 

 done with an idea of fooling the spirits, as is the case with some other 

 tribes. The child is nursed until two or three years of age, or until 

 another takes its place. There is no superstition concerning twins, 

 but triplets are at once put to death by filling their mouths with ashes, 

 otherwise "the parents would die, for they are like dogs." 



When questioned concerning abortion, Datu Tongkaling asserted 

 that he considered it "very bad," and that he would prohibit any 

 mabaltan who assisted in such a practice from continuing her profession, 

 but he said that despite his orders secret medicines which produce that 

 result are sometimes administered. Such a practice is not common, 

 however, as children are greatly desired and no worse slur can be applied 

 to a woman than to speak of her as barren. 



So far as could be learned there is no ceremony or celebration of any 

 kind when a child reaches the age of puberty but soon thereafter its 

 teeth will be filed and blackened. In some villages the boys are ciru in- 

 cised, but the practice is not compulsory, neither is it general throughout 

 the territory. 



MARRIAGE. 



Marriage among the Bagobo takes place much later than is common 

 among most Philippine tribes, the couple often being eighteen or twenty 

 years of age. As a rule the parents of the boy select the girl and nego- 

 tiate the match. Going to the house of the girl they casually broach 

 the subject and if her parents are favorable, a day is set to discuss the 

 details. This meeting is attended by the friends and relatives of both 

 families, and two head-men or datu must also be present to represent 

 the contracting parties. The price the girl should bring varies according 

 to the wealth of the interested parties and the accomplishments of the 

 bride. Whatever the sum paid, the father of the girl must make a re- 

 turn present equal to one-half the value of the marriage gift "so that 

 he does not sell his daughter like a slave." Usually marriage does not 

 take place until a year or more after this settlement, and during the 

 interval the boy must serve his father-in-law to be. When the time 

 for the final ceremony arrives the relatives and friends assemble and 

 for two or three days they feast and make merry. A mabaltan spreads 

 a mat on the floor, places on it many valuable articles and then offers 

 all to the spirits, in order that they may be pleased to give the couple a 



