110 GIBBS AND AGCAOILI. 
hand) and red pepper, and are bestowed by one friend into the 
mouth of another. It is not good etiquette to refuse, nor should 
one remove the piece from one’s mouth, no matter how unwieldy 
it may prove, for it will be one’s turn to reciprocate the deed in 
kind. 
When the turn of each to drink comes again, the bamboo 
tankard is taken by a friend and filled to overflowing. Remon- 
strances are of no avail, the draught must be despatched at 
once, for the tribesman loves a cheerful and a rapid drinker, 
and ample opportunity will occur to return the favor. This 
custom of reciprocating in food and drink is very characteristic 
of all the Agusan tribes except the Mangguangan who inten- 
sifies it by returning the favor twice, giving his friend two 
mouthfuls and two tankards for one. : 
Drinking during religious and social feasts—The drinking 
customs are as above described, except that the beverage is set 
out in sacred jars,” if the latter are on hand, and with such an 
array of bowls as the host may be the proud and happy pos- 
sessor of. One of these feasts (especially that of marriage) 
may be attended by as many as two hundred persons and lasts 
from three to seven days (and nights) so that to hear of 20 jars 
or 100 sugung or bamboo jointfuls of tuba being consumed on 
the occasion of a great festival is not strange. 
The quantity of food and drink consumed, both individually 
and collectively, during one of these feasts, gives an idea of the 
hearty appetite which these primitive peoples enjoy. The aver- 
age white man, I think, would be deliriously drunk and bloated 
before the Mandaya or Manobo would be feeling merry. It is 
not according to tribal customs to refuse meat and drink while 
the host has them to set before his guests. On occasions I have 
seen a tribesman rise, quietly empty his stomach, and calmly 
return to the fray to finish his appointed portion and wash his 
hands in his plate, as an evidence of that fact. 
Women and children drink little, not from any religious or 
moral principles, but simply because they do not care for it. How- 
ever, the men are inveterate drinkers and have an extraordinary 
capacity. No disgrace is attached to drunkeness. On the con- 
trary, to take the allotted portion is considered a duty and a 
virtue. Man vies with man in holding out, and friend honors 
friend with plenteous offerings, while the host strives to keep 
all supplied to their utmost capacity. 
Evil effects from drinking among the Manobos and Manda- 
* Called in Mandaya and Mangguangan bandi, and in Manobo bahandi. 
