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
Fish are secured by means of bamboo traps through which a part of the
water of a stream is diverted. These traps do not differ in any respect
from those shown in Fig. 19. Along the coast metal fishhooks and dip and
throw nets are in common use, but these are at present largely obtained
from the Moro. The easiest and hence the most popular method of securing
fish is to mash together the poisonous roots of the _tobli_ tree and the
fruit of the _oliskEb_. The pulp is then sunk into still pools of water
and in a short time, the stupified[sic] fish begin to float to the
surface, where they are quickly seized by the fishermen.
WARFARE
Mention has already been made of the use of pits and traps in warfare.
In addition to these it is customary for a returning war party to
conceal in the trail many _saoñag_, small stiletto-shaped bamboo sticks,
which pierce the feet of those in pursuit. A night camp is effectively
protected in the same manner against barefooted enemies.
The arms used are spears, fighting knives with wide bellied blades,
daggers, narrow shields with which weapons are defected (Fig. 52), and
in some sections bows and arrows. The fighting knives and daggers
(Plates LXXV-LXXVI) deserve more than casual notice. The heavy bellied
blades of the knives are highly tempered, and not infrequently are bored
through and inlaid with silver, in which instances they are known as
_binuta_,--blind (Plate LXXVa). The sheaths, with their sharply upturned
ends, are made of light wood on which are carved decorations, attached
or inlaid bands of silver, or stained designs. The handles of the
weapons are also decorated with incised silver bands.
FIG. 52. WOODEN SHIELDS.
Much as the fighting knives are prized, the dagger, _bayadau_ or
_badau_, is in even greater favor. It is worn on the front left-hand
part of the body in ready reach of the right hand, and is never removed
unless the owner is in the company of trusted relatives. A light thread,
easily broken, holds the dagger in its sheath and the slightest
disturbance is enough to cause the owner to draw his weapon.
The older warriors claim that it formerly was their custom to protect
themselves with strips of hemp cloth, _limbotung_, which they wound many
times around their bodies in order to ward off knife thrusts, but this
method of protection seems to have fallen into disuse.[133]
[133] This type of protective armor is still used by the Bukidnon of
Central Mindanao.
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