September, 1913- Wild Tribes oe Davao District — Cole. 133 



the old men of the group should consider him incompetent, in which 

 case they will determine upon the successor. 



Warriors who have killed one or more persons 1 are known as lEbE 

 (Plate XLII), and are permitted to wear plain red suits decorated 

 with embroidery. Their duties and privileges are much the same as 

 those of the Bagobo magam. 



A class known as almo-os is composed mostly of middle-aged women 

 who are in close communication with the spirits and who, like the 

 mabalian of the Bagobo, conduct ceremonies to aid in the cure of the 

 sick, to secure good crops, or to thank the higher beings for their help 

 and watchfulness. Unlike the mabalian, these women are seldom 

 mid wives, such duties being performed by a group called f audita. 2 

 Finally, we learn that slaves are sometimes taken from neighboring 

 tribes or even from unfriendly settlements of their own people, to 

 which class may be added offenders against the laws of the group. 

 Slavery, however, is not very prevalent, for men are not greatly desired 

 unless needed for a sacrifice, while young girls and women soon become 

 regular members of their master's family. 



As has just been indicated a man may have as many wives as he can 

 secure by purchase or capture, provided they are not blood relations, 

 but a new wife cannot be added to the family until the one preceding 

 has borne a child. 



Difficulties are generally settled between the parties concerned, but 

 if they carry their case to the ruler they must abide by his decision. A 

 thief is usually compelled to return the stolen property, but in at least 

 one case the culprit was sacrificed. 3 



Murder can be avenged by a murder so long as the trouble remains 

 a family affair, but if the case goes to the ruler it is probable that he will 

 levy a fine on the culprit. Unfaithfulness in a wife can be punished 

 by the death of one or both offenders if the husband exacts the punish- 

 ment, otherwise a fine is imposed. 



The type of clothing worn by this tribe is practically identical with 

 that of the Bagobo, while the cloth from which it is made is procured by 

 a like process. However, in the ornamentation of these garments there 

 is wide variation. Beads are not used to any great extent, but in their 

 place are intricate embroidered designs which excel, both in beauty and 

 technique the work of any other wild tribe in the Islands, while on the 

 more elaborate costumes hundreds of shell disks are used in artistic 

 designs. The woman's skirt is of hemp and is made in exactly the same 



1 Said to be four among the Tagkogon. 



2 Probably a corruption of the Mora term pandi'a. 



3 See p. 145. 



