274 The Tinguian 



Aside from the daily bath, the child has little to disturb it during 

 the first five or six years of its life. It has no birthdays, its hair is 

 never cut, unless it be that it is trimmed over the eyes to form bangs, 

 and it wears clothing only on very special occasions. The children 

 are by no means innocent in sexual matters ; but absolute familiarity 

 with nudity has removed all curiosity and false modesty, and the re- 

 lations between the sexes are no freer than in civilized communities. 



When garments are put on, they are identical with those worn by 

 the elders. At all ages the people will discard their clothing without 

 any sense of shame, whenever the occasion demands ; as, for instance, 

 the fording of a stream, or when a number of both sexes happen to 

 be bathing at the same time in the village, pool. This does not lead 

 to immodesty or lewdness, and a person who is careless about the 

 acts, which are not considered proper in Tinguian society, is an object 

 of scorn quite as much as he would be in a more advanced community. 



The first toys generally consist of pigs, carabao, or horses made 

 by sticking bamboo legs into a sweet potato or mango. A more elabor- 

 ate plaything is an imitation snake made of short bamboo strips 

 fastened together with cords at top, center, and bottom. When this 

 is held near the middle by the thumb and forefinger, it winds and 

 curls about as if alive. 



Stilts of bamboo, similar to those used in America, are sometimes 

 used by the older children, but the more popular local variety is made 

 by fastening cords through the tops of half coconut shells. The 

 youth holds a cord in each hand, stands on the shells with the lines 

 passing between the first two toes, and then walks. 



Flat boards with cords attached become "carabao sleds," and in 

 these immense loads of imaginary rice are hauled to the granaries. 

 A similar device serves as a harrow, while a stick is converted into 

 a "plough" or "horse," as is desired. Imitation carabao yokes are much 

 prized, and the children pass many hours serving as draught animals 

 or drivers. The bull-roarer, made by putting a thin piece of bamboo 

 on a cord and whirling it about the head, makes a pleasing noise, 

 and is excellent to use in frightening stray horses. Blow-guns, made 

 out of bamboo or the hollow tubes of plants, vie in popularity with 

 a pop-gun of similar construction. A wad of leaves is driven through 

 with a plunger, and gives a sharp report, as it is expelled. 



Tops are among the prized possessions of the boys. They are 

 spun, or are wound with cord, and are thrown overhand at those of 

 other players, with the intention of splitting or marking them. 



Quite as popular, with the small girls, are tiny pestles with which 

 they industriously pound rice chaff, in imitation of their mothers. 



