The Cycle of Life 275 



While still mere babies, the boys begin to play with toy knives 

 made of wood, but by the time they are seven or eight years of age, 

 they are permitted to carry long bolos, and before puberty they are 

 expert with the weapons Used by the tribe (Plate XI). In the moun- 

 tain regions in particular, it is a common occurrence for groups of 

 youngsters, armed with reed spears and palm-bark shields, to carry 

 on mock battles. They also learn to make traps and nets, and often- 

 times they return to the village with a good catch of small birds. 



Full grown dogs are seldom friendly or considered as pets; but 

 puppies, small chickens, parrakeets, pigs, and baby carabao make ex- 

 cellent playfellows, and suffer accordingly. From the day of its birth, 

 the young carabao is taken possession of by the children, who will 

 fondle and tease it, ride on its back, or slide off over its head or tail. 

 Soon they gain confidence, and find similar amusements with the full 

 grown animals. These huge beasts are often surly or vicious, especially 

 around white men, but they recognize their masters in the little brown 

 folk, and submit meekly to their antics. In fact, the greater part of 

 the care of these animals is entrusted to young boys. 



When not engaged in some of the amusements already mentioned, 

 it is probable that the youngster is one of the group of naked little 

 savages, which races through the village on the way to the swimming 

 hole, or climbs tall trees from the top of which sleeping pigs can be 

 easily bombarded. Should the children be so fortunate as to possess 

 a tin can, secured from some visiting traveller, they quickly convert 

 it into a drum or gansa, and forthwith start a celebration. All can 

 dance and sing, play on nose flutes, bamboo guitars, or Jew's harps. 



In addition to songs of their own composition, there are other 



songs, which are heard whenever the children are at play. They make 



a swing by tying ropes to a carabao yoke, and attach it to a limb; 



then, as they swing, they sing: 



"Pull swing. My swing is a snake. 



"Do not writhe like a snake. My swing is a big snake. 



"Do not turn and twist. My swing is a lizard. 



"Do not tremble or shake." 



When a group gathers under a house to pop corn in the burning 

 rice chaff, they chant: 



"Pop, pop, become like the privates of a woman. 

 "Make a noise, make a noise, like the clay jar. 

 "Pop, pop, like the coconut shell dish. 

 "Sagai, sagai, 1 make a noise like the big jar." 



When the smoke blows toward a part of the children, the others 



sing over and over : 



"Deep water here; high land there." 



1 Sagai is the sound made when scratching away the embers of a fire. 



