September, 19 13. Wild Tribes of Davao District — Cole. 103 



the duties of the mabaltan who returned home carrying an agong, the 

 payment for her services. 



A man may have as many wives as he desires and can afford, but he 

 may not take a second mate until a child has been born to the first 

 union, or the wife has been proved beyond doubt to be barren. The 

 groom renders no services to the father of the second wife, but instead 

 of this pays a double price for the girl, for he not only pays her parents 

 but is forced also to give a like sum to his first wife, who, in turn, 

 presents it to her father. Should a third wife be added to the family 

 a sum equal to her cost is divided among the earlier wives. The first 

 wife is generally the lady of the house and does not particularly object 

 to having other girls added to the family, provided they are willing to 

 obey her. Datu Tongkaling has had four wives, three of whom are 

 still living. 



If a couple cannot agiee, a separation can be arranged by applying 

 to the local head-man, who, after listening to their troubles, decides 

 which one is at fault, and whether or no the marriage gifts must be 

 returned. When a couple parts, plates, bowls, and jars are sometimes 

 broken as a sign that they will never live together again and the spirits 

 are thus called to witness. A divorced woman may remarry, but 

 unless the sum originally paid for her has been returned, the new groom 

 must pay such an amount to the first husband. 



SICKNESS AND DEATH. 



In case of illness a mabaltan administers some simple remedy without 

 any call on the spirits. If, however, the sickness does not yield readily 

 to this treatment, it is evident that the trouble is caused by some spirit 

 who can only be appeased by a gift. Betel nuts, leaves, food, clothing, 

 and some article in daily use by the patient are placed in a dish of palm 

 bark and on top of all is laid a roughly carved figure of a man. This 

 offering is passed over the body of the patient while the mabaltan ad- 

 dresses the spirits as follows. "Now, you can have the man on this 

 dish, for we have changed him for the sick man. Pardon anything this 

 man may have done, and let him be well again." Immediately after 

 this the dish is carried away and hidden so that the sick person may 

 never see it again, for should he do so the illness would return. 



According to Father Gisbert a doll is carved from a piece of wood 

 and the spirit is addressed: "O God, Thou who has created men and 

 trees, and all things, do not deprive us of life, and receive in exchange 

 this bit of wood which has our face." 



