BENEDICT, BAGOBO CEREMONIAL, MAGIC AND MYTH 25 



element, possibly due to some very early dissemination of an Indo- 

 Iranian tradition of the sacredness of the four elements. It has 

 been noted, however, in preceding paragraphs, that gods of earth, 

 of air, of fresh water, are freely mentioned, and that one gamo- 

 gamo is associated with marine life. 



We have now to consider the Mandarangan, a class of war-gods 5 * 

 of very high rank who, in their ceremonial capacity and in their 

 relation to individuals, are of first-rate importance. Ordinarily, one 

 hears only the chief of these war-gods mentioned, Mandarangan 

 proper, who is the mighty god of warriors, as well as of all brave 

 men who have actually taken human life in fair fight or by the 

 orders of the datu, and thus are privileged to wear the peculiar 

 kerchief known as tankulu. Mandarangan is one of the divinities 

 to whom the higher rites of the ceremonial are paid, 54 and for 

 whose pleasure human sacrifices are offered. He is called "the 

 Grod of the Sky for Men," but he is conceived to live at will on 

 Mount Matutun 55 and on Mount Apo. 30 He fills a man's heart 

 with fierce courage stimulating him to fight, and thus give blood 

 to him (Mandarangan) to drink ; and any man who has killed many 

 persons is under the special protection of Mandarangan. In part, 

 because of his residence on the volcano Apo ; in part, because of 

 his love for blood, there has been some tendency among those 

 Spanish priests who have left documents on native customs to 

 identify Mandarangan with Buso, 5T but his personality stands out 

 sharply distinct from that of Buso. Carefully it was explained to 

 me that Mandarangan eats the flesh of those only who have been 

 slain in fight, and of victims offered in sacrifice ; while Buso, on 

 the contrary, eats any dead body that he can get hold of, whether 



5 3 The Calamianes are said to have "worshiped ... a petty deity who resembled 

 Mars, in order to gain protection in their battles." Blair and Robertson : op. cit., 

 vol. 21, p. 228. 1905. 



s * See index for references to Mandarangan. 



- i An extinct volcano, just north of Saraugani bay. 



58 An active volcano in southern Mindanao, and the highest peak in the Philippines, 

 with a height of 10, 312 feet. Cf. Census of the Philippine Islands, vol. l,pp. 71, 202. J 905. 



S7 Popular writers, as well as missionaries, have drawn the inference that Mandarangan 

 is "a devil" and "responsible for all ailments." See A. H. Savage Landor: "The Gems 

 of the East," p. 362. 1904. So far, however, from being in any manner identified with 

 evil, Mandarangan is represented as placing himself in oppositiou to evil in the combat 

 with Buso. Mandarangan's presence is desired in the ceremonial house, where food and 

 drink and entertainment are prepared for him; while every art is used to drive away the 

 buso from the festival. Cf. section, "the Lemons called Buso," pp. 29 — 43. 



