The Wild Tribes of Davao District, Mindanao - The R. F. Cummings Philippine Expedition by Fay-Cooper Cole
page 62 of 211 (29%)
page 62 of 211 (29%)
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the two on his score. He may also count those of his townspeople whom he
has killed in fair fight, but unprovoked murder will be punished by the death of the offender. The candidate for _magani_ honors may go to an unfriendly town, or to a neighboring tribe, and kill without fear of censure from his own people. [30] This is the rule at Cibolan. At Malilla and Digos, the kerchief may be worn when one life has been taken, the trousers for two, the coat for three, and finally the sack for four. [Transcriber's note: _matalo_ in the paragraph above means "coward."] The _magani_ is one of the leaders in a war party; he is chosen to inflict the death penalty when it is decreed, and it is men of this class that assist in the human sacrifices. He is under the special protection of Mandarangan and Darago, and all petitions to these powerful spirits must be made through him. His clothing is considered the property of these spirits, and when such specimens were secured for the collection, the wearer would invariably place the garment beside some prized article, such as a knife or spear, then taking a green betel nut would rub the garment and object, meanwhile beseeching the spirits to leave the one and enter the other. Later the nut was placed in the _tambara_ belonging to those spirits. A father may not bequeath to his son the right to the red clothing; and such articles, together with his weapons, should be buried with him. Should one not entitled to these garments dare to make use of them, the spirits would straightway cause his body to swell or turn yellow, and he would die. In a previous paragraph we mentioned the unorganized priesthood, the members of which are known as _mabalian_. Men are not barred from this |
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