September, 1913. Wild Tribes op Davao District— Coee. 135 



background (Plate LYIIIc). In this tribe the use of such suits is not 

 restricted, but with the neighboring Kulaman they can be worn by 

 warriors 1 only. 



Before we proceed further with the description of the life of the 

 people, it will be well for us to inquire into their religious beliefs, for, 

 as is the case with all their neighbors, their faith in unseen beings 

 influences their daily life to a very great extent. The two following 

 tales deal with the Bila-an genesis. 



"In the beginning was Al£lu — a being of such great size as to be 



FIG. 37. 



A. women's ear Plugs. 



B. M en's Ear plugs. 



beyond comparison with any known thing; who was white, having gold 

 teeth, and who sat upon the clouds, and occupied all space above. 



"He was very cleanly and was constantly rubbing himself with his 

 hands in order that he might keep his skin quite white. The scurf or 

 dead skin which he thus removed, he placed to one side where it ac- 

 cumulated at last to such a heap that it annoyed him. To be rid of this 

 annoyance he made the earth, and being pleased with his work, he de- 

 cided to make two beings like himself only much smaller in size. This 

 he did from remnants of the material from which he made the earth. 



1 See p. 155 for a description of this process. 



