September, 1913. Wild Tribes of Davao District — Cole. 185 



without further reference to the spirit world, but the cultivation and 



care of this cereal can only be carried on according to certain fixed 



conditions. 



About November first, when a group of seven stars called poyo poyo 



appears in the west, it is a signal for all who expect to clear new land 



to begin their labors. By December first this constellation rises 



straight above and it is then time to plant. This is further confirmed 



by the appearance of a star known as sabak. If any have delayed their 



planting until the middle of December they are given a last warning 



when the stars forming Bayatik 1 appear. 



As soon as the land has been cleared a pole is placed in the center 



of the field and is surrounded by a fence. This is known as tagbinlan 



and seems to be erected in honor of the spirit Omayan, although by 



some it is insisted that it is intended for his residence. The seed rice 



is deposited inside the enclosure 2 and the men begin to prepare the 



soil about it. This they do by thrusting sharpened sticks into the 



ground, thus making holes an inch or two in depth. Taking rice from 



the tagbtman the women follow, dropping seeds into the holes. 



When the harvest time is near at hand the men repair the old 



granaries or build new and then, when all is ready for the crop, an old 



man or woman goes alone, in the middle of the night, to the fields and 



there cuts a few stalks of the rice. Should this be neglected the crop 



is sure to be small and will vanish quickly. This grain is not used as 



an offering, nor are any gifts made to the spirits until the crop has been 



harvested and the people are ready to eat of the new rice. At that 



time a little of the recently harvested grain is placed on a dish, together 



with other food and betel-nut, and is carried to the granary, where it 



is presented to the spirit "in order that the 



granary may always be full." When the 



grain is needed for use it is removed from the 



straw by pounding it with wooden pestles , it 



is then placed in a wooden mortar and is 



again pounded until the husks are loosened. 



This accomplished, the grain is freed from 



chaff by tossing it in a winnower. If a greater 



amount has been cleared than is needed it is 



stored in gourds or water-proof baskets 



(Fig. 50). A month or two after the harvest 

 1 This is the same as balatik, page 62. 

 J Maxey relates that at planting and harvest 

 time the Mandaya of Cateel carry offerings to the 

 baltti trees and there offer it to Diwata, in suppli- 

 cation or thanks for an abundant crop. 



FIG. 50. 

 GOURD RICE HOLDER. 



