148 MILLER. 



pieces of bamboo, and still others with a piece of rattan and a 

 piece of bamboo. The second of the three methods may be 

 described as follows : ^° 



One edge of a piece of bamboo is sharpened. It is then firmly 

 fastened at an angle of about 45° with the lower end away from 

 the operator. It may be fastened against a post in such a way 

 that the man who is to use it can, by putting one arm on either 

 side of the post, bring the weight of his body as well as muscular 

 force into play. On the convex side of another similar piece of 

 bamboo a shallow groove is cut; on the concave side, at right 

 angles to the groove on the convex side, another is cut until a 

 small hole is made where the two grooves intersect. A few fine 

 shavings are scraped off the bamboo, placed in the groove on the 

 concave side so as to cover the small hole, and held pressed 

 together. This second piece of bamboo is then held firmly in 

 the two hands, the groove on the convex side is placed on the 

 sharpened edge of the other piece, and the bamboo is rubbed 

 rapidly backward and forward and at the same time is pressed 

 down hard. In a few seconds smoke issues from the point of 

 contact of the two pieces and soon the fine shavings are afire. 

 This is the method in use near Bulalakao. 



In the Bako region practically every man met with, and some 

 women as well, wears on the left upper arm 1 or 2 or 3 armlets 

 of rattan. These appear ornamental, but are used in making 

 fire. A piece of dry wood about 3 centimeters in diameter is 

 selected, one end of it is split for a distance of 12 to 14 centi- 

 meters and a plug is put in to keep the slit open. A few shav- 

 ings are then put tightly into the slit where it is narrow. One 

 of the armlets is taken from the arm, unwound, and passed 

 around the split stick just under the shavings. The split stick 

 is held firmly on the ground with the two feet and the rattan 

 is drawn rapidly backward and forward until the shavings 

 ignite. A few seconds usually are suflScient. 



I have seen no other method of making fire in Mindoro 

 excepting, of course, by the use of matches. The Mangyans 

 are acquainted with matches and like them. 



FAMILY LIFE. 



Only long acquaintance with the Mangyans would enable the 

 observer to know well their family life. As a rule I have no 



" Compare also fire-making methods in use among the Negritos of 

 Zambales. Reed, Negritos of Zambales, loc. cit., 40. 



