n6 Field Museum oe Natural History — Anth., Vol. XII. 



"We left Davao on the morning of the 27th of December and arrived 

 at Digos in the afternoon of the same day. An order was immediately 

 sent out to the Bagobos of Talun to come down to Digos to meet us. 



"On the morning of the 30th, the entire population of Talun — men, 

 women and children, to the number of almost one hundred and fifty- 

 arrived at Digos. They were informed that it was reported that a 

 human sacrifice had been made at their town and that the authorities 

 desired to know if this was so. 



"Datto Ansig replied that it was true that a sacrifice had been held 

 as stated and that both he and his people were ready to tell all about 

 it as to the best of their belief they had committed no crime, but only 

 followed out a religious custom practiced by themselves and their 

 ancestors from time immemorial. 



"From the statements made by Ansig and his followers, it appears 

 as follows: 



"That the Bagobos have several gods, 'Bacalad,' God of the 

 spirits, Agpanmole Monobo, God of good and his wife the goddess 

 Dewata; Mandarangan, the God of evil (corresponding perhaps to 

 our devil) and to whom sacrifice is made to appease his wrath which is 

 shown by misfortune, years of drought, or evil befalling the tribe or its 

 members, also it is at times necessary to offer him human sacrifice so 

 that he will allow the spirits of the deceased to rest, etc. They say that 

 in case a Bagobo of rank or influence dies, and his widow be unable to 

 secure another husband, it is necessary for her to offer sacrifice to 

 appease the spirit of her departed husband in order that she may secure 

 another. In order that these sacrifices be not made too often, it is 

 customary for the old men of the town to gather together once each 

 year during a time when a collection of seven stars, three at right angle 

 to the other four, are seen in the heavens at seven o'clock in the evening, 

 which is said to occur once each year during the first part of the month of 

 December. 



"This collection of stars is called by the Bagobos 'Balatic,' and is 

 the sign of the sacrifice, that is, if a sacrifice is to occur, it must take 

 place during the time that the stars are in this position. 



"The old men meet and decide if enough misfortune has overtaken 

 the tribe or village during the period since the last sacrifice to render 

 necessary another tribute to the god of evil. It is not necessary to 

 offer a sacrifice for each evil, but when the misfortunes amount to a 

 considerable, a sacrifice is held to cover the entire lot. 



"In this case it appears that two widows, Addy and Obby, went to 

 Datto Ansig and requested that he arrange a sacrifice to appease the 



