The Inhabitants of the PhilippinesSawyer, Frederic H.
History
The Inhabitants of the Philippines
Sawyer, Frederic H.
Ethnology -- Philippines; Philippines -- Social life and customs
The Guiangas live on the slopes of Mount Apo, to the North of the
Bagobos, whom they much resemble in manners and customs. In view of
the small territory they occupy, they cannot be numerous.
They have a rather effeminate air, the men wearing their hair long;
but notwithstanding this, they are quite robust, of remarkable agility,
and very adroit in the use of arms.
Montano gives the average height of the man as 5 feet 4½ inches,
and measured some up to 5 feet 7½ inches. The men wear short drawers
and huge ear ornaments. Their weapons are the bow and spear. They
are organised on the same feudal system as the other tribes being
governed by their dattos. Their houses, as usual, are built on high
piles. They are tolerably industrious, and occasionally work for the
Visayas on their plantations. They possess horses, cattle, and poultry,
and make the usual plantations of rice, camote, and maize.
As regards their religion, Tighiama is the Creator, and Manama the
governor of the world. Todlay, the god of love, is husband of the
Virgin Todlibun, and the women celebrate certain rites in his honour.
Dewata is the protector of the house, and he is said to love blood. It
is therefore incumbent on the head of every household to avenge any
insult in the blood of the offender.
As amongst other tribes, the death of a datto, or of one of his
wives, requires a human sacrifice in number proportionate to the
rank of the defunct. The victims are usually taken from amongst the
slaves of the datto, but in some cases they are purchased by public
subscription. Being securely fastened to trees so that they cannot
move, the largest subscriber inflicts a stab--politely avoiding
giving a mortal wound, then the others follow in accordance with
the importance of their subscription. The cries of the victim, thus
gradually done to death, are drowned by the vociferations of his
executioners. These sacrifices are still carried on in the remoter
districts, but the missionaries are beginning to convert the Guiangas
nearest the coast, and have established several reducciones in Guianga
territory, such as Garellano, Oran, Guernica, Oyanguren. In the parish
of Davao and its missions, there were at the end of 1896 nearly
12,000 Christians, and the missionaries were actively at work and
were meeting with success. If they are re-established, and supported,
in a few years' time human sacrifices will only be a dread tradition
of the past.
The illustration shows a group of Guiangas, both men and women,
the latter wearing many ornaments.
Bagobos (9).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account