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
There is considerable variation in the architecture of the dwellings but
the following description of the home of Datu Dialum, on the headwaters
of the Ma-al river, will give the general plan of all.
Small hardwood poles about twenty feet in length formed the uprights to
which the side and crossbeams were lashed, while in the center of each
end beam smaller sticks were tied to form the king posts. From the ridge
pole small timbers extended to the side beams, thus forming the
framework on which the final topping of flattened bamboo was laid. This
roof was of one pitch and at the sides overhung the walls by about a
foot. Twelve feet above the ground other poles were lashed to the
uprights and on these rested the cross timbers of the floor, which in
turn were covered with broad strips of bark. The side walls extended
between the floor and the beams, but in no place did they extend up to
the roof. Entrance to the dwelling was gained by a notched log.
Once inside the house the arrangement impressed one as being similar to
those of the Bagobo. Just above the door, and again in the far end of
the room, poles were laid across the beams to form the floors of lofts
which, in this case, were used as sleeping rooms.
In front of the door, at the opposite side of the room, was a bed of
ashes in which three stones were sunk to form the stove, and above this
was suspended a rack which contained cooking pots, drying wood, ears of
corn, and the like. Close to the stove were a few earthen pots (Fig. 35)
and many short bamboo tubes filled with water, while against the wall
hung rattan frames filled with half cocoanut-shell dishes, spoons, and
two or three old Chinese plates. Near the center of the room stood a
rice mortar made by hollowing out a section of log. At the far end of
the room was a raised sleeping platform, such as is found in all Bagobo
houses, and extending from this to the center and on each side of the
room were narrow stalls where the women were engaged in weaving, and in
which they slept and kept their most valued possessions.
FIG. 35. COOKING POT AND COVER.
In the description of the house we have mentioned most of the
furnishings. In addition it is customary to find a few well made mats of
_pandanus_ or _buri_ palm leaf. These are spread on the floor when the
owners wish to retire and for the rest of the time are rolled up and
laid along the walls. Carved forked sticks which serve as torch-holders
stand in various parts of the room, while somewhere near the stove is a
miscellany of wooden meat blocks, bamboo fans and fly swatters, gourds
filled with millet, salt, or mashed peppers, and shovel-shaped or round
rice winnowers, which also serve as common eating dishes for the family
and guests. Well made baskets stand by the walls or hang from pegs along
with articles of clothing, while spears, shields, and other weapons are
fastened to side walls or roof.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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