along the beach and in the mountains, from Sigaboy to Cape San Agustin,
and also in a few scattered villages on the southeastern Pacific Coast.

By their neighbors they are known as Kulaman or Manobo. The former
designation is translated as "bad man," but it is probable that they
received the name from the town of Kulaman, where they formerly resided.
They are equally well known as Manobo--a word meaning "man." Earlier
writers, misled by these two names, have generally treated this people
as forming two distinct groups, but this is quite incorrect, both names
being applied to a part or to the whole of the tribe. It has also been
customary to describe them as a part of the great Manobo tribe which
inhabits a large portion of Central and Northeastern Mindanao. The
writer is of the opinion that there is not sufficient evidence to
justify such a classification and that for the present we must consider
them as distinct from the Manobo of the northern district as are the
other tribes of Davao Gulf.

According to their own tales, the Kulaman once held all the coast from
the Padada River to Sarangani Bay, but did not extend far back from the
sea, since in the mountains lived the Tagakaolo and Bila-an with whom
they were constantly at war. When the Moro appeared on their coasts and
offered help against the hill tribes in return for land, they were
gladly received and were given several village sites near to the mouths
of various rivers. Aside from a few minor quarrels, the Kulaman have
always lived on friendly terms with these later comers, and not a few of
the tribe have been converted to Mohammedism.

Influenced by their new allies they organized under several petty rulers
who were subservient to the datu at Kulaman, and with this superior
organization they were able to carry on such successful warfare against