518 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS [voL. 48 
The arms, generally, are the blow-gun and arrow, in the use of 
which those who live in the interior are very skilled. Those who 
live along the coast use ‘armas blancas” such as the “ badon” or 
Moro kris and the spear, and there are some who use a musket of 
very old pattern. With these arms they defended themselves against 
the attacks of the Moro pirates from Jolo and Mindanao as well as 
from the Moros of southern Palawan. These attacks occurred very 
frequently during the years when Moro piracy reigned in nearly 
every part of the Philippine Archipelago and hostile incursions did 
not cease until the year 1876 when, thanks to the efficient forces of 
General Malcampo (of grateful memory) then the Spanish Governor 
of the Philippines, Jolo was taken. 
The character of this tribe is very peaceful in its dealings and very 
hospitable. There is never war among them, neither does one 
rancheria rise against another. All dissensions among themselves 
are settled by the maguegares (nobles) or old men who exercise 
authority and who form a kind of council in which they hear and 
judge all the cases submitted to them. Of the order of hierarchy 
of these maguerares we will speak later. 
When they receive into their home any stranger of distinction, 
especially one in authority, they endeavor to please him in every 
possible way. The young women are resplendent in their best 
attire, especially the wives of the chief, who usually has two, polyg- 
amy being permitted. The rich men of the tribe, those in authority, 
and the head men of the rancherias, always hold in reserve certain 
objects such as cups, plates, glasses, bowls, which they carefully 
guard, using them only on occasions when strangers of some pre- 
tence may present themselves. When visitors are entertained, on 
the table of the aristocrat is boiled rice placed upona large metal dish, 
yellow in color and known as jalam, surrounding this are the bowls 
known as barong, containing meat, salt, and various foods prepared 
according to the mode of the country. A large metal basin holding 
water, and which at times serves as a finger bowl, is placed upon the 
table and into it is dipped the glass with which to take the water. 
Each large plate or jalam prepared in the way described is for the 
use of one person only, thus obliging each noble or maguegar to 
provide himself with a number of jalams and large metal cups. 
These objects are of great value to the owners and are bought from 
the Moros at a price more or less dear, giving in exchange for them 
almaciga, wax, and bejuco which they gather from the mountains. 
There are no dining tables, but the guests sit upon the floor. Be- 
bf 
