32 ANNALS NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



the Chinaman told him that he must pro away. ''Why,' - asked the Bagobo. 

 ^'Because the buso will be here in a few minutes and he eats people." 

 Then the man went home. In a few minutes the Buso came to rest in the 

 store. He smiled and said: "'Who has been here?" "Nobody but a dog." 

 replied the Chinaman. 



That Americans are not afraid to ascend the volcano without the 

 use of protective charms, is a source of bewilderment to the Bagobo, 

 and that no fatal illness follows the rash act is still more astonish- 

 ing; but the native explanation is that we treat Buso with pro- 

 nounced courtesy, and thus win his favor. "The American people 

 can go to Apo, because they are very polite to Buso. If they were 

 not polite, Buso would eat them." 



Though having their special habitat on Mount Apo, and on 

 another mountain called Mabanisan, 7I the buso are said to frequent, 

 in general, all localities where there are graves, empty houses, 

 solitary mountain trails. At any time, indeed, or in any place 

 outside of the house, there is the chance of a buso making his 

 appearance. The young people are impressed with the idea that 

 a Buso lives everywhere out-of-doors;" and that a buso is a in every 

 way." For this reason, a Bagobo rarely walks alone for any con- 

 siderable distance over the mountains; two, or several, go in com- 

 pany, the more easily to ward off Buso's influence, for, although 

 unable to attack directly a living man or openly kill him, he 

 works under covert by entering, in the form of some disease, the 

 body of his victim; or by some other means he makes him sick. 



An empty house is likely to lie buso-haunted. even if its owner 

 has gone away for but a short time, and the neighbors are cautious 

 about entering during his absence. One often sees several Bagobo 

 sitting on the bamboo rounds of the house-ladder, and waiting 

 patiently for some member of the family to return, when they will 

 all go up the steps together. Rarely does a buso dare to enter a 

 house while people are living there, at least during the day. for 

 the demons are supposed to be afraid of meeting, face to fare. 

 people in health and action; but in case' of mortal illness Buso 

 scents from afar the Mesh of the dying, and Hies through the air 

 until he comes to rest under the house, or even inside of the sick- 

 room. Unless by Borne magical means he can be driven away, he 

 Beizes the body a- soon as life is extinct, puts into its place a 



1 The situatiou of this mountain is not known to the writer. 



