invoking his aid and also holding conversation with the spirits. This is
invariably done while the others are asleep." He further states that
with the aid of Diwata the _ballyan_ is able to foretell the future by
the reading of palms. "If she should fail to read the future the first
time, she dances for one night before the _manaog_ and the following day
is able to read it clearly, the Diwata having revealed the hidden
meaning to her during the night conference."[114]

[114] In the Mayo district palmistry is practiced by several old people
who make no claim of having the aid of the spirits. Bagani Paglambayon
read the palms of the writer and one of his assistants, but all his
predictions were of an exceedingly general nature and on the safe side.

Spanish writers make frequent mention of these idols,[115] and in his
reports[116] Governor Bolton describes the image of a crocodile seen by
him in the Mandaya country "which was carved of wood and painted black,
was five feet long, and life-like. The people said it was the likeness
of their god." Lieutenant J. R. Youngblood, when near the headwaters of
the Agusan River, saw in front of a chief's house "a rude wooden image
of a man which seemed to be treated with some religious awe and
respect." Mr. Robert F. Black, a missionary residing in Davao, writes
that "the Mandaya have in their homes wooden dolls which may be idols."

[115] BLAIR and ROBERTSON, Vol. XII, 269, XLIII, p. 217, etc.

[116] Filed in the office of the Governor of Davao.

From this testimony it appears that in a part of the Mandaya territory
the spirit Diwata, at least, is represented by images.