The National tribune., 1898-07-14
CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII
l had resided long enough at Lagan-
guilan y Aladalae | was desirouS OF
visiting Manabo, q large village, situated
at q short distance from LaganguiIan.
availed myself of the presence of the
inhabitants Of Manabo, who had come TO
assist at the Brain Feast-this was the
appellation | had given to this savage
iete-and | set out with them.
Among the troop there was one who had
spent some time among the Taealocs: he
spoke their language little and | knew
1t tolerably well. | prOfited by this fOrtu-
nate occurrence, and during the whole OF
the way | converSed with this savage.
and questioned him upon the habits,
customs, ana manners OF his fellow
countrymen.
one point particularly preOccupied me;
| was unacquainted with the religion OF
these people, so very curious To study.
Until then | had seen no temple: nothing
that bore resemblance to an idol; | knew
not what god they worshiped. My
guide, chatty for an Indian. gave me
QUICKLY every information necessary. He
told me that the Tinguians have no
veneration Tor the stars; they neither
adore the sun, nor moon, nor the con
stellations; they believe in the existence
OF soul, and pretend that after death il
quits the body, and remains in the family.
no w thc Sou thdt tncy duOTc, IL varies
ana changes form according to chance
and circumstances. And here is the
reason: When u Tinguian chief has found
IN the country a rock or q trunk Of a tree
Of strange shape mean To say. repre-
senting tolerably well either dog. COW
or buffalo-he informs the inha bitants Of
the village of his discovery, and the rock
or trunk OF tree, is Immediately con
sidered as divinity-that is to say, as
something superior to man
Then all the Indians repair to the APP
pointed spot, carrying with them pro-
visions and live hogs. When they have
reached their destination they raise a
straw roof above the new idol, to cover il,
and make sacrifice by roasting hogs
eat, drink, and dance until they have no
provisions left. When all is eaten and
drank, they set fire to the thatched roof
and the idol is forgotten until the chief
having discovered another one, commands
q new ceremony.
With regards to the morals of the Tin
guIanS my guide informed me that the
Tinguian has generally one legitimate
wife and many mistreSses. The marriage
is q contract between the two families of
the married couple. The day of the cere
mony. the man and wife bring their dowry
in goods and chattels; the marriage DOR
ton is composed Of china vases, glass.
powder. 1t is of no profit to the married
couple, for they distribute it to their
relations. This custom, my guide OBJ
served to me, has been established To
prevent a divorce, which could only take
place In entirely reStituting all the objects
that were contributed at the marriage by
the party asking for divOrce-a rather
skilIiul expedient for savages, and worthy
OF being the invention of civilized people.
The relatives thus become much in
tereSted in preventing the separation. as
they would be obliged to restitute the
presents received; and, If one of the
couple persisted in requesting it. they
would prevent him or her by making away
with one OF the objects furnished such
as a coral necklace, or china vase.
My fellow-traveler enlightened me upon
all the points that wished to investigate
The government, said he to me, after
resting himself for a few minutes, is very
1t is the oldest man who
commands. CAS- at Lacedumonia. thought
|, for there old age was honored) The
laws are perpetuated by tradition, as the
have no idea of writing
In some instances they apply the
punishment of death When the fatal
sentence has been pronounced. the Tin
guian who has merited it must escape. If
he wishes to avoid it, and go and live in
the forests; for the old men having
spoken, all the inha bitants are bound to
perform their orders. Society is divided
into two classes, as with the TagalocS,
the chiefs and the commonalty. Who
ever possesses and can exhibit to the
public a certain number of china vases is
a chief. These jars constitute
all the wealth of the Tinguians.
We were still cOnversing about the
natives OF the country when we reached
Manabo. My guide had scarcely ceased
-alking all the way from Laganguilan.
My attention was now attracted by
some flames that were issuing from under
/ cabin, where Il large fire was burning.
around il many people were sitting, howl
ng like wolves
"Ahl ah!' said my guide, seemingly