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The Wild Tribes of Davao District, Mindanao - The R. F. Cummings Philippine Expedition by Fay-Cooper Cole
page 75 of 211 (35%)

There is some variance, in different parts of the Bagobo area, in the
beliefs concerning the spirits or souls of a man. In Cibolan each man
and woman is supposed to have eight spirits or _gimokod_, which dwell in
the head, the right and left hands and feet, and other parts not
specified. At death these _gimokod_ part, four from the right side of
the body, going up to a place called _palakalangit_, and four descending
to a region known as _karonaronawan_.These places differ in no respects
from the present home of the Bagobo, except that in the region above it
is always day, and all useful plants grow in abundance. In these places
the _gimokod_ are met by the spirits, Toglai and Tigyama, and by them
are assigned to their future homes. If a man has been a _datu_ on earth,
his spirits have like rank in the other life, but go to the same place
as those of common people. The _gimokod_ of evil men are punished by
being crowded into poor houses. These spirits may return to their old
home for short periods, and talk with the _gimokod_ of the living
through dreams, but they never return to dwell again on earth.

In the districts to the west of Cibolan the general belief is that there
are but two _gimokod_, one inhabiting the right side of the body, the
other the left. That of the right side is good, while all evil deeds and
inclinations come from the one dwelling on the left. It is a common
thing when a child is ill to attach a chain bracelet to its right arm
and to bid the good spirit not to depart, but to remain and restore the
child to health. In Malilla it is believed that after death the spirit
of the right side goes to a good place, while the one on the left
remains to wander about on earth as a _buso_,[42] but this latter belief
does not seem to be shared by the people of other districts.

[42] See p. 107.
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