
188 PEOPLES OF THE PHILIPPINES 
conveying his beneficial supernatural qualities to the 
sick person. 
No two tribes follow exactly the same practices; what 
is taboo to one is often freely permitted among the other. 
One may recognize certain causes of disease and cure 
for them which the other is totally unaware of. But 
however much the specific beliefs and acts vary, the 
general basis is everywhere identical, and the foregoing 
sketch of Bagobo magic and medicine may therefore 
be taken as substantially representative of the psy- 
chology of all the Philippine peoples. 
Taboos. Taboos against personal activity are 
observed by every people in the archipelago. Almost 
always they are laid on mourners for the dead, but often 
are imposed also when disease breaks out or other un- 
favorable or critical junctures arise. Usually the taboo 
operates by forbidding, so far as possible, both work and 
enjoyment, and the consumption of wine, rice, and other 
choice foods. Such a taboo rarely expires automatically. 
When it has run its proper period, it is formally lifted 
by a ceremony of some sort. If the occasion is suff- 
ciently important, such a rite of termination almost 
always involves a_ sacrifice—perhaps even that of 
human life, either in combat or as a formal offering. 
Even the most primitive of the Filipinos, however, are 
much less inclined to apply such taboos on the occasion 
of birth and particularly adolescence than many other 
primitive peoples. In spite of its considerable preva- 
lence, also, the taboo idea is not nearly so developed or 
powerful in the Philippines, nor anywhere in the East 
Indies for that matter, as in the Polynesian and Melane- 
sian islands of the Pacific. 
Omensand Divination. Ontheotherhandomens 
play a disproportionately large part in Filipino life. 
Natural omens are exceedingly numerous. An animal 
