September, 19 13. Wild Tribes of Davao District — Cole. 171 



his arrival, as a result of starvation. The natives recovered at once 

 and all traces of their starvation disappeared within two weeks. The 

 men were powerfully built, nearly six feet high. Their bodies were all 

 covered with tattoo work. The woman was decorated even more than 

 the men. Fever soon took hold of these castaways and in a year's 

 time all died except one small boy who seems to have become accli- 

 mated and will become identified with the natives in Mati. I took care 

 of these people until they died. 



"The clothing worn by the men and woman was nothing but the 

 'lavalava,' a scarf of sea-grass fiber about 18 inches wide and five feet 

 long. This was worn around the loins. 



"The banca, which was of very curious construction, was taken to 

 Zamboanga last year by General Pershing, to be placed in Moro 

 Province Museum." 



After the advent of the Spaniards into their territory a considerable 

 number of this people were converted to the Christian faith and were 

 induced to settle in villages. There they met and intermarried with 

 Visayan and other emigrants who had followed the Spaniards to the 

 South. During the time of the Spanish rule these settlements were 

 partially destroyed by Moro raiders, and following the Spanish-American 

 war these attacks became so frequent that many of the inhabitants 

 deserted their homes and returning to their mountain kinsmen again 

 took up the old life. The effect of this return is especially noticeable 

 in the vicinity of Caraga where as late as 1885 there were 596 Mandaya 

 converts. 



Several attempts were also made to colonize the Mandaya near the 

 mouths of the Tagum and Hijo rivers, but the restlessness of the natives 

 or the hostility of the Moro was always sufficient to cause the early 

 break up of the new settlements. 



The last great influence on this tribe has come through American 

 planters who have prevailed upon the more venturesome members to 

 come down to the coast plantations and there adopt the life of the 

 Christianized natives. Many of these adventurers have returned to 

 their mountain homes, carrying with them new ideas and artifacts and, 

 in some cases, wives from other tribes. With all these influences at 

 work there has been considerable modification of the life in many 

 districts, particularly along the Pacific coast. This description will 

 attempt to give the old life of the tribe as it still exists in the more 

 isolated districts, or as it was related by older people of the coast settle- 

 ments. 



