
CHAPTER VI 
KNOWLEDGE AND ART 
Astronomy. From what has been said of his myth- 
ology, it is clear that the uncivilized Filipino could not 
have possessed much of what we are wont to name 
scientific knowledge. Yet some rudiments of astronomy 
and other branches of knowledge existed among the 
most backward groups. The pagans of southern 
Mindanao distinguish several constellations, and deter- 
mine the season for beginning rice planting by the 
appearance of poyo-poyo, probably the Pleiades, and 
balatik, Orion. From Luzon several calendars have been 
reported; that is, names of recognized divisions of the 
year. There is some doubt whether each new moon 
receives an appellation of its own, or whether the terms 
refer to less definite periods. They designate seasons 
or seasonal occupations, especially with reference to 
agriculture. Even if these calendars are really lunar, 
they must be of quite a primitive type, because twelve 
lunations do not coincide with the year and they con- 
tain no indication of any regulated method of correc- 
tion. 
As regards the sun, moon, and planets, the Filipinos 
hold only the fanciful concepts of mythology, except 
where the superior wisdom of the Hindus has reached 
them. They share, for instance, in the world-wide 
primitive belief that eclipses are caused by a monster 
that attempts to devour the moon, and can be frightened 
off by shouts and noises. But the particular form which 
this belief takes among them is distinctly Indian: 
the monster is a giant bird that bears the Hindu name 
rahu. An even more specific importation is the ob- 
servance by the Magindanao Moro of five divisions of 
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