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



MYTHOLOGY AND RELIGION. 



In order to enter into a full understanding of the social, economic, 

 and aesthetic life we must have some knowledge of the mythology and 

 religious beliefs, for these pervade every activity. 



Several stories accounting for natural phenomena and the origin 

 of the tribe were heard. One of these relates that the sun and moon 

 were married and lived happily together until many children had been 

 born to them. At last they quarreled and the moon ran away from 

 her husband who has since been pursuing her through the heavens. 

 After the separation of their parents the children died, and the moon 

 gathering up their bodies cut them into small pieces and threw them 

 into space. Those fragments which fell into water became fish, those 

 which fell on land were converted into snakes and animals, while "those 

 which fell upward" remained in the sky as stars. 



A somewhat different version of this tale agrees that the quarrel 

 and subsequent chase occurred, but denies that the children died and 

 were cut up. It states that it is true that the offspring were animals, 

 but they were so from the time of their birth. One of these children 

 is a giant crab named iambanokaua who lives in the sea. When he 

 moves about he causes the tides and high waves; when he opens his 

 eyes lightning appears. For some unknown reason this animal fre- 

 quently seeks to devour his mother, the moon, and when he nearly 

 succeeds an eclipse occurs. At such a time the people shout, beat 

 on gongs, and in other ways try to frighten the monster so that he can 

 not accomplish his purpose. 1 The phases of the moon are caused by her 

 putting on or taking off her garments. When the moon is full she is 

 thought to be entirely naked. 



According to this tale the stars had quite a different origin than that 

 just related. "In the beginning of things there was only one great star, 

 who was like a man in appearance. He sought to usurp the place of 

 of the sun and the result was a conflict in which the latter was vic- 

 torious. He cut his rival into small bits and scattered him over the 

 whole sky as a woman sows rice." 



The earth was once entirely flat but was pressed up into mountains 

 by a mythical woman, Agusanan. It has always rested on the back of 

 a great eel whose movements cause earthquakes. Sometimes crabs 

 or other small animals annoy him until, in his rage, he attempts to 

 reach them, then the earth is shaken so violently that whole mountains 

 are thrown into the sea. 



1 The writer found almost identical beliefs and practices among the Batak and 

 Tagbanua of Palawan. 



