SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT. 25 
religious authority. The title datu conveys only civil authority. The 
old Subanu title of panungo signifies “chief of chiefs’’ and ceases upon 
the death of the man upon whom the unusual honor has been conferred 
by a council of tzmuar. No young man can hold the title of panungo, 
as it is reserved for men of age, long experience, popularity, and success. 
When superseded by another headman the title of timuaz becomes 
honorary until the late incumbent may again be called to assume the 
direction of hiscommunity. Once a temuat, the recipient of the honor 
is liable at any time during his life to further active service as headman 
(especially if he has been faithful in the discharge of public duty), when 
not prevented by physical infirmities. In some cases where such head- 
men have been notably efficient in leadership and very popular with the 
people, the commonalty have insisted upon his remaining in office until 
the very moment of his death. Among the Subanu the family is the 
governmental unit. The father is the head of the family and its abso- 
lute ruler. He holds the power of life and death. An association or 
confederation of families forms a community under the leadership of a 
timuat. Family rights are supreme and therefore the right of secession 
from the community inheres in the head of the family. When a family 
becomes dissatisfied with the conduct and control of a headman the 
father secedes and places his family under the domination of some other 
timuat. ‘This does not always involve a change of residence but more 
often only a change of allegiance. Under these conditions the family 
becomes sufficient unto itself as an independent governing unit in all 
matters except those pertaining to its relation with other families in the 
same class. The tribal government of the Subanu has evolved the exec- 
utive t7muaz and clothed that official with the necessary authority to 
adjust the relations between the families of a confederation or com- 
munity. The size of such a community depends upon the ability and 
popularity of the tzmuazin charge. Families go and come and give the 
headman due notice of the change. In this respect perfect freedom is 
accorded the families. 
Recognizing the independence of the families as a fundamental 
principle of Subanu social order, these people have thus far resisted all 
appeals and efforts by the Spanish and American governments to gather 
them into towns. The Subanu dearly cherish the independence and 
freedom of the family unit and look with suspicion and even fear upon 
the many restrictions that must of necessity be imposed upon people 
when they are closely associated in communities. Assoon as the young 
men take to themselves wives they break away from the old family 
home and establish new family units at remote points, where they can 
enjoy all the freedom of their peculiar nomadic life. 
At various times the Jesuit priests have made strenuous and per- 
sistent efforts to establish village life among the Subanu, especially in 
the sub-district of Dapitan, but the plan was not successful. 
