12 THE SUBANU. 
religion, and upon the extinction of that faith around the mouth of the 
Pasig at Manila, all but a few words fellinto disuse. Mohammedanism 
could hardly have become established in the Tagalog region before 1450 
to 1500, as it came very slowly from India or Arabia to Java, and thence 
by way of Borneo and Sulu to the Bay of Manila and the Pasig valley. 
Some Arabic words were adopted by the Spanish and thus brought into 
the vocabulary of the Tagalog.”’ 
SLOW MODIFICATION OF CULTURE. 
Accustomed as they are by nature or forced by necessity to occupy 
the isolated interior of the country, Combes observed their cultural 
backwardness by referring to the— 
natural barbarism of the Subanuns, living, as they do, in high, wild country, 
with as little sociability as animals, and having their houses placed a league 
apart, wherever one of them may be pleased to make himself a settlement. 
They lack civilization as well as human intercourse, for they are so opposed by 
nature to intercommunication that they grow old in their rancherias without 
being drawn by curiosity from their settlements, or seeing the sea, although 
some of them live within sound of its waves; and if necessity or gain does bring 
them in sight of its shores, they are contented with that, without seeking to 
attempt fortune through its dangers. 
This lack of inquisitiveness by the Subanu as noted by Combes 
is not peculiar to them, for the writer has had occasion to observe a 
marked indifference on the part of members of other non-Christian 
tribesin Mindanao (Kalibugans, Samal Lutangans, Illanuns, and Magin- 
danaos) to passing events of a novel nature. The well-known custom 
of Americans and Europeans of the rustic and middle classes to view 
strange sights with ignorant wonder and prolonged attention is mark- 
edly absent from the characteristics of the wild people of Mindanao, 
and especially from the Subanu. Even when temporarily visiting the 
larger coast towns, the Subanu give strict attention to the business 
that brings them there and usually, after its completion, make early 
departure for their homes. 
As late as August, 1911, the writer observed Subanu (men of adult 
age) visiting the rancheria of Sindangan, on the west coast of the Zam- 
boanga peninsula, viewing the sea, for the first time in their existerice, 
with considerable equanimity. Finally one of the men rushed forward 
into the gentle surf and caught up with his two hands a quantity of 
the sea water, carrying it to his mouth, for the purpose of drinking to 
quench thirst, when he was seen to spit it out and to back away from 
the surf. When his companions advanced to learn the cause they 
were informed by him that the water was umpet (bitter) and unfit to 
drink. ‘There was a general exclamation of surprise and disappoint- 
ment that such a vast body of water as Sindangan Bay, evidently clean 
and pure, could not be used for drinking and cooking. It was explained 
to them that the alleged bitterness was due to the presence of salt held 
