SUBANU-VISAYAN FILIATION. 89 
Yet we are not without data which may be applied toward the solu- 
tion of the problem. ‘The formative elements tell a tale of importance. 
In general we observe that the Visayan employs all the composition 
members which are in Subanu use. From the dictionary of Fray Juan 
Félix we find that the Visayan has in use a considerable number of such 
members which the Subanu lacks. ‘This is particularly to be noticed in 
the matter of the infixes, those puzzling yet very convenient marks of a 
word-treatment which is just beginning to reach out toward inflectional 
value. From this we begin to form the impression that the Subanu 
represents an earlier phase of a common speech; that it has not under- 
gone the development which accession of higher culture has induced 
among the Visayans. 
The geography of the culture site of the Subanu leads us in the 
same direction. On the ethnographic chart in Father Algué’s ‘‘Atlas de 
Filipinas’ the Visayans are indicated as occupying a somewhat compact 
area in the mid Philippines. ‘Their settlements are principally found on 
Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Leyte, Samar. North of this center the 
islands of Panay, Masbate, Tablas, Romblén, and Sibuyan show more 
or less extended occupation by this stock. “Toward the south they are 
found in settlement at spots upon the north coast of Mindanao, on the 
east shore of the Bay of Iligan, on its west shore as faras Dapitan, on the 
northeast coast from Surigao to Lianga, and upon the outlying islands of 
Dinagat and Siargao. ‘This plot shows distinctly the movement of the 
Visayans in their advance upon the archipelago, for it is indisputable 
that they are a Malayan race both linguistically and ethnologically. 
From the tip of Borneo two well-marked lines lie before the coast- 
Wise seamen of the prahu. ‘The northern line leads from the north 
shore of Borneo by Balbac, Paragua, and Busuanga direct to Mindoro, 
with not a trace of Visayans along the line. The southern line of 
approach, after leaving the south coast of Borneo, leads by Tawitawi, 
Joldé, Basilan, and Zamboanga directly to the abodes of the Subanu and 
to the center of Visayan life and settlement spread over the area from 
Negros to Samar. ‘The position in which the Subanu lie relative to this 
broad avenue of Visayan migration indicates for them an early asso- 
ciation with the main body of migrants. Having taken possession of 
this region north of Zamboanga, they withdrew to the interior of the 
country for the usual protection of weak peoples by evasion. Thus 
they lost touch with the greater members of their race; they remained 
undeveloped in their inland seclusion and now present an earlier type, 
perhaps the earliest type of the race which with greater freedom of 
development under better settlement conditions has marched forward 
to such progress as now marks the Visayan culture. 
By combination of all these considerations we reach theconclusion 
that the Subanu are of the Visayan race, that their language represents 
an early phase of the Visayan, and that future investigation may bring 
