124 Field Museum of Natural History — Anth., Vol. XII. 



Necklaces and leglets are made of rattan and are decorated with 

 burned lines or by being overlaid with platted strips of orchid and fern 

 cuticle (Fig. 2). 



A few rare specimens, such as personal ornaments or basket rims, 

 have sewed in designs in which the sewing has been done with fern 

 cuticle (Plate XXXI Vb). 



Incised patterns appear on nearly all the bamboo lime and tobacco 

 holders, but here individual fancy plays such an important part that a 

 hundred specimens might be examined without rinding duplicate 

 patterns. Fig. 14 shows nine of these tubes covered with cut-in designs, 

 yet only one figure, that marked X in b could be identified. This 

 was said to be the familiar crocodile. 



Coming to the work in brass and copper we encounter an en- 

 tirely new type of design. In some cases straight inlaid or overlaid 

 strips and twisted wires are used to ornament the specimen; while in 

 the raised and cut-in lines on the bells we find simple patterns. In the 

 main, however, the ornamentation on this class of material consists 

 of complicated scrolls (Plate XU), designs suggesting flower or tree 

 patterns, or conventionalized figures. One only needs to compare 

 these objects with similar specimens from Borneo and the Malayan 

 Islands of the South, to find the source of this type of ornamentation 1 . 

 In fact the imitation of Moro wares is practiced today. In Plate 

 XLIa and b are shown two betel nut boxes — No. 1 the work of the 

 Samal Moro, No. 2 the imitation of the inlaid work on the top of the 

 first specimen. This last was made in my presence, and with the ex- 

 pressed intention of duplicating the Moro box. However, in this case, 

 as in all others, the Bagobo caster did not attempt to exactly reproduce 

 the work of another, but simply borrowed a broad idea, and thus he 

 often creates new forms. 



Not once did the writer receive a name for any pattern or design 

 shown in metal work. A careful study of the method of work, of the 

 articles produced, and of the folk-lore and religious observances con- 

 nected with the work in brass and copper brings one to the conclusion 

 that this class of work is of comparatively recent introduction and that 

 the instructors in the art were the Samal Moro. 



Mention has already been made of the designs incised on combs and 

 other objects which are afterwards filled with lime. Just here it is 

 interesting to note that, so far as is known, the southern end of Min- 

 danao and adjacent small islands, are the only parts of the Philippines 

 in which this decoration, so typical of Melanesia, is to be found. 



1 See Ling Roth, Oriental Silver Work. 



