The Wild Tribes of Davao District, Mindanao: The R. F. Cummings Philippine Expedition — John Shaqi
The Wild Tribes of Davao District, Mindanao: The R. F. Cummings Philippine ExpeditionCole, Fay-Cooper
History
The Wild Tribes of Davao District, Mindanao: The R. F. Cummings Philippine Expedition
Cole, Fay-Cooper
Ethnology -- Philippines -- Mindanao Island
The lips are full and bowed; the chin is round and well formed. The root
of the nose is depressed; the ridge broad and generally inclined to be
concave, although straight noses are not uncommon. The nasal wings are
moderately broad and arched or swelled. The eye slits are oblique and
moderately open, showing dark or brown-black eyes. The hair is
brown-black and generally slightly wavy or loosely curled, while in some
cases it is found curled in locks. Women comb their hair straight back
and plaster it with cocoanut oil, but even this does not prevent stray
locks from creeping out. Both face and body hairs are scanty and are
generally removed, yet occasionally a man is seen who has cultivated a
few hairs into a fair semblance of a beard.
The Bagobo, while well nourished, are inclined to be of slight build,
with very narrow waists. In color they are a light reddish brown with a
slight olive tinge which is more pronounced in the women than in the
men.
In a brief summary, we can say that they are a short, slightly built,
metsati-cephalic people, with wavy hair, long faces, and broad, full
noses and lips. Individuals are met with who exhibit many of the
physical characteristics of the Negrito;[7] while still others, both in
color and facial lines, are comparable to the Chinese.
[7] Pygmy blacks of the Philippines.
DRESS--PERSONAL ADORNMENT.
No wild tribe in the Islands gives more attention to dress than does the
Bagobo. By an intricate process hemp is colored and woven into excellent
garments, which, in turn, are decorated with embroidery, applique, or
designs in shell disks and beads. The men wear their hair long and after
twisting it around the head hold it in place with kerchiefs, the edges
of which are decorated with beads and tassels.
A close fitting undershirt is often worn, and above this is an
elaborately beaded or embroidered coat which generally opens in front.
The hemp cloth trousers scarcely reach to the knee, and the bottom of
each leg is decorated with a beaded or embroidered band. Two belts are
worn, one to hold the trousers, the other to support the fighting or
working knives which each man carries. In lieu of pockets he has on his
back an elaborately beaded hemp cloth bag bordered with tassels and
bells of native casting. Highly prized shell bracelets, worn as cuffs by
some men, are made of a large, conical sea-shell (Fig. 1) the base and
interior spirals of which have been cut away. Necklaces made of rattan
strips decorated or overlaid with alternating layers of fern and orchid
cuticle (Fig. 2) are frequently seen, while many strands of beads and
carved seeds surround the necks of both men and women. Both sexes also
wear, above the calf of the leg, plaited or beaded leglets to some of
which magical properties are ascribed.
FIG. 1. SHELL BRACELET.
FIG. 2. NECKLACE OF RATTAN OVERLAID WITH FERN AND ORCHID CUTICLE.
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