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Updated: June 5, 2025
Upon his death he is succeeded by his eldest son, unless the old men of the group should consider him incompetent, in which case they will determine upon the successor. Their duties and privileges are much the same as those of the Bagobo magani. Said to be four among the Tagkogon.
The Bagobo makes no use of boats or rafts, for until recent times he has lived at a considerable distance from the sea; and the rivers, which flow in deep cañons, may be changed in a day from tiny streams to rushing torrents in which no craft could keep afloat. Left to his own devices, he pays little attention to trails, but cuts his way through the underbrush directly to his destination.
Birds of all sizes are secured by use of bows and arrows, blow guns, or nets. The arrow shafts are of light reeds and are fitted with one or two bamboo points. These weapons are effective only for close range, and even then the Bagobo are far from being expert marksmen. The missile is not poisoned and is of little use at a distance of more than twenty feet.
Modern foreign increments that have filtered into the stories from the folk-lore of neighboring wild tribes notably that of the Bilan, the Tagacolo, and, to a less extent, the Culaman and Ata will have to be sifted out eventually. In illustration of this point, one tale known to be outside of Bagobo sources is here introduced.
Although we shall treat religion more fully in a later paragraph, it is desirable that we now gain an idea of those beliefs which enter intimately into every activity of the daily life of this people. The Bagobo believes in a mighty company of superior beings who exercise great control over the lives of men.
The sun is moved about by the wind;" again, "the sun and moon were once married and all the stars are their children." Despite repeated assertions by previous writers that the Bagobo are fire-worshippers no evidence was obtained during our visit to support the statement. The older people insisted that it was not a spirit and that no offerings were ever made to it.
The Kulaman of Santa Cruz insist that each person has two kalaloa, one on the right side and one on the left. At death the one on the right side goes to a good place in the sky, where there is no work and "thoughts come easy." The kalaloa of the left side goes into the ground to a poor place called Kilot. It is probable that the neighboring Bagobo have influenced the beliefs of this group.
The following results were obtained by measurements on twenty-seven men: Maximum height 166.6 cm.; minimum 151.3 cm.; average 157.4 cm. Cephalic indices Maximum 89.7; minimum 76.3; average 81.5. Length-height indices Maximum 79.0; minimum 63.1, average 70.0. These tables show that aside from being more short-headed, this tribe differs little from the Bagobo, Bila-an, and Kulaman.
Mandalangan, also called Siling or Manobo Siring, is much like the Bagobo divinity of similar name. He is fond of war and bloodshed and when there has been a great slaughter he feasts on the flesh and drinks of the blood of the slain. Only warriors can address him and make the offerings of red food which he demands.
The traditional concept of Buso among the Bagobo has essentially the same content as that of Asuang with Visayan peoples. Both Buso and Asuang suggest the Rákshasa of Indian myth. See footnote 2, p. 19. A stout work-knife, with broad, one-edged blade, and square tip; used to hew down trees, and cut kindling-wood.
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