548 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS [voL. 48 
Their daring is well nigh incredible. If any one of their number 
should encounter in a cave or in the hollow of a large tree a large 
snake known as biay he will notify his companions and ten or 
more of these will hasten to the place. One of them with a loop 
made of bejuco will enter the lair of the reptile in order to bind him. 
Presently by the force of the throw they will cause the snake to 
come forth. If in spite of this operation it will not come forth, then 
they will make a fire. When the reptile appears he is cut into pieces 
and each person receives the part which he has touched~ 
The Batacs are very dirty and strangers to the bath. Their bodies 
exhale a fearful odor. Their skin is very much charred owing to — 
the fact that they constantly lie near the fire, which protects them 
from the cold. They live in small huts made of palms. They formno 
rancherias like the Tagbanuas, but dwell in families in the moun- 
tains and the interior of the woods. The women give birth without 
any aid. When the appointed time has come the hurband constructs 
a small hut, and the woman is placed therein in a hcrizontal position. 
A piece of wood is her pillow and a petate is placed under her body 
extending from the head to the waist. After the child is born the 
woman will arise without being aided. Having taken her medicines, 
which consist of certain roots, and leaving the child unbandaged 
and uncovered, she will go to the nearest river and bathe. She will 
return with a vessel of water and bathe the newly born child, and 
is now ready to do all kinds of work including the hulling of rice. 
After the birth of the child, the mother always has a vessel con- 
taining water with which she bathes the child whenever it cries, 
emptying the contents upon the head of the child until its crying 
ceases. This manner of birth and care of the child is also observed 
among the Apurahuanos. 
The children are baptized by the fathers without ceremony, some 
immediately after being born, others after a period of two years or 
more, according to the desire of the parents. Their names usually 
are those of animals, trees, rivers, places or spots in which they were 
born; and not infrequently they bear the names of Christians, such 
as some of the Batacs of Caruray known as Elicon, Lorenso, Victorio, 
etc., owing no doubt to Christian influence. If a child has been born 
near a certain river it will bear the name of that river. 
When a young man desires to take a wife he will ask permission 
of his father. This request being granted, he will take espousal 
gifts consisting of bracelets and rings of yellow metal, turtle, and 
carabao horn to the house of his intended bride and give them to her 
