vm, D, 2 Bey£r: Myths Among Mountain Peoples 89 



a python, according to the version of some, and whenever he feels dis- 

 pleasure toward men, he shakes the post, thereby producing an earthquake, 

 and at the same time intimating to man his anger. It is believed that, 

 should the trembling continue, the world would be destroyed. 



In the same district it is believed that the sky is round and that its 

 extremities are at the limits of the sea. Somewhat near these limits is an 

 enormous hole called the navel of the sea through which the waters descend. 



It is said that in the early days of creation the sky was low, but that 

 one day a woman, while pounding rice, hit it with her pestle and it 

 ascended to its present position. 



Another version of the creation, prevalent among the Manobos of the 

 Argauan and HibuiTg Rivers, gives the control of the world to Ddgau, who 

 lives at the four fundamental pillars in the company of a python. Being 

 a woman, Dagau dislikes the sight of human blood, and when it is spilled 

 upon the face of the earth she incites the huge serpent to wreathe itself 

 around the pillars and shake the world to its foundations. Should she 

 become exceedingly angry, she diminishes the supply of rice either by re- 

 moving it from the granary or by making the soil unproductive. 



Another variation of the story to be heard on the Upper Agusan, Si- 

 mulau, and Umayan Rivers, has it that the world is like a huge mushroom 

 and that it is supported upon an iron pillar in the center. This pillar is 

 controlled by the higher and more powerful order of diuwdta, who on 

 becoming angered at the actions of men manifest their feelings by shaking 

 the pillar and thereby reminding men of their duties. 



Three points in the beliefs just mentioned should be kept in 

 mind. First, the recurrence of the idea that the earth world is 

 supported by a post created by the chief deity and near which 

 he dwells. Second, the belief in the pusod nang ddgat, or 

 "navel of the sea," which is common to all of the pagan tribes 

 of Mindanao and was also known by the ancient Bisayas, Ta- 

 galogs, and other peoples now Christianized. It is extremely 

 probable that this belief originated from some great whirlpool, 

 known to the ancestors of the Philippine peoples or passed by 

 them on their voyages." Third, the belief that the sky was 

 once very near the earth, and was raised to its present position 

 by some deity. This belief is also common in northern Luzon. 



The idea of the origin of curious-shaped rocks, hills, or moun- 

 tains by petrifaction of some living animal or plant is common 

 in the Philippines. Garvan gives the two following Manobo 

 legends of this character : 



THE PETRIFIED CRAFT AND CREW OF KAGBUBATANG 



In the old, old days a boat was passing the rocky promontory of Kagbu- 

 batang." The occupants espied a monkey and a cat fighting upon the 



" I am informed by Dr. N. M. Saleeby that this myth is also known 

 among the Malays of Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. 



" Kagbubatang is a point within sight of the town of Placer, eastern 

 Mindanao. 



