September, 1913. Wild Tribes of Davao District — Cole. 187 



-already described on p. 73, but with this tribe they are regarded 

 only as a boy's plaything. 



Deer and pig are sometimes hunted by large parties with the aid 

 of dogs. In such cases an attempt is made to drive the animals past 

 concealed hunters, or to dispatch them with spears when brought to 

 bay by the dogs. The more successful method, however, is by means 

 of traps several types of which were seen by the writer. The first 

 and most common is a dead fall consisting of a heavy log so arranged 

 in the runway of the game that a passing animal will cause it to fall 

 Next in favor with the hunters is the bayatik. One end of a sapling 

 is tied horizontally to a tree and is then bent back like a spring. It is 

 held in place by means of a trigger which is released when an animal 

 disturbs a vine stretched across the runway. Against the free end of 

 the spring a long bamboo- spear or arrow is placed in such a manner 

 that it is thrown with great force against the animal which has released 

 the trigger. This trap is frequently used in warfare to protect the 

 retreat of a war party, or to surprise an enemy. 



Sharpened bamboo sticks, two or three feet long, planted at points 

 where animals are accustomed to jump or run down steep inclines, are 

 wonderfully efficient in securing game. Sticks and leaves cover pits 

 in which sharpened poles are planted and into these unsuspecting 

 animals or members of a hostile party often fall. All these last named 

 devices are exceedingly dangerous and it is unadvisable for a traveler 

 in the jungle to try to penetrate a strange region unless accompanied 

 b>y a native who knows the position of the traps and pits. 



Fish are secured by means of bamboo traps through which a part 

 of the water of a stream is diverted. These traps do not differ in any 

 respect from those shown in Fig. 19. Along the coast metal fish- 

 hooks and dip and throw nets are in common use, but these are at 

 present largely obtained from the Moro. The easiest and hence the 

 most popular method of securing fish is to mash together the poisonous 

 roots of the tobli tree and the fruit of the oliskEb. The pulp is then 

 sunk into still pools of water and in a short time the stupified fish 

 begin to float to the surface, where they are quickly seized by the 

 fishermen. 



WARFARE 



Mention has already been made of the use of pits and traps in 

 warfare. In addition to these it is customary for a returning war party 

 to conceal in the trail many saonag, small stiletto-shaped bamboo 



