The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-08

mourners. Then the boat containing the
corpse Ia sunk with heavy stones. No cere-
mony 10 gone through with. however simple
its nature. without an abundance OF dancing
and feasting
Anumbcr OF strange myths are believed in
by this people. the most remarkable OF which
10 one pertaining to the sun According to a
native legend. at one time the sun god. being
old and weary OF the arduous labor OF driving
the sun. appeared before n young warrior and
requested to be relieved Of his cares. There
upon the youth shot an arrow into the heavens
and 1t remained fixed in the sky. and then an
other. which stuck in the notch OF the first one.
then third and fourth. and so on. until he had
formed chain to tho sky. up which he clam
bered. The sun god was delighted to see him.
and intrusted the sun to his care. but tho
hapless youth. being inexperienced. drove
IL too near the earth with disastrous
results. The trees began TO burn and tho
people to drop dead. at which the gol became
very angry. and taking from him the control
OF the sun placed him in charge OF tho moon.
In the intense heat some OF the animals hid
in caves. and their skins remained white.
while tho fur OF other animals that were ex
posed to the burning heat was turned black.
This according to the Davatawi BELIEF. ac-
counts for the varying color OF their own race
and the dissimiarity OF color in the fur OF
animals.
An ethnic branch Of the Davatawi. forming
one OF the strapgest sects in the Philippines.
are the Yezias. or Nouddo a small race num-
bering several thousand OF the most fanatical
quasi Ma hometans OF the Island OF Mindanao.
Although numerically inferior to tho great
tribes surrounding them. their bold and war
like nature has preserved them from agrees
sion. and for hundreds OF years they have
maintained a unique faith. differing entirely
from that OF tho other savage tribes OF the
islands. Their chief village is Shciha. in south
ern Mindanao. Few Europeans have ever en-
tered this mysterious place and fewer still
have witnessed the strange rites performed
there. Even the harbarous Philippine tribes
ascribe supernatural reputation to this land
ana shun it as the abode Of devils and male
VIOLENT evil spirits.
During my explorations | fortunately
reached this strange city lust before the yearly
celebration was TO take plnce The Yezias. al
though fanatcally brave when their religion is
assailed. are mild and peaceable race OF agrl-
cultursts. and we were invited to view the
subsequent ceremonies. The precepts OF this
sect may well puzzle cthnoogists. for while
all the other Philippine tribes are engaged in
worshipng many gods bent on encompassing
the destruction OF devils and evil spirits. he
Yezias have adopted an antithetcal religion.
seeking to destroy all good ones Yet these
people are prosperous and In every way su-
perior to their neighbors, leading one to be-
levs that an ACQUAINTANCE with self-respect-
ing devils is a thing not totally undesirable
On the third day after our arrival we were
led BY one OF the priests to a small valley lying
northeast OF the village. This was an idylc
retreat. shut in from the outer world by i'm
mense mountain ranges. The hisides and
dsclivities were we'll wooded. and beyond
stretched the dark. imrenetrable forests which
the devils were supposed to inhabit In the
middle OF the glen was large matched temple
surrounded on all sides by coffin shaped struc-
lures followed out OF tree trunks. placed up
right in the ground. with small slit down one
side and covered with cabnlistic symbols de-
noting the functions Of the particular devil oc-
cupying 1t.
At the rear OF tho main temple a series OF
shattered alcove-like pens cont aimed the sacred
animals to be sacrificed during the ceremony.
| They were tended by several OF the more i'm
portant priests. whose duty 1t is to seek certain
| trees in the forest known to be the abo lie OF
devils. and with their branches to chastise the
| sacred animals. in order that the latter might
| imbibe into their systems some OF the
much desired evil tendency The animals were
| also forced to drink potent drugs concocted by
| tho witch-doctors from the roots OF various
| sacred trees and plants. and what with their
| frequent chastisem ent and the effect OF these
| potions. tho an mails. usually dogs and cattle.
were reduced to a comparatively wild state.
| their constant cries serving to attract the
| devils from the forest to the temple dwellings
| which had been provided for them.
When by various subtle conversations and
magical Vaccinations the priests are con-
| WINGED that this object has been attained. word
| Is sent to the different villages OF the tribe. APP
| pointing night for all to gather in the sacred
valley to take part in the great annual celebra-
| ton. AS soon 1t Is dark the priests who
have charge OF the sacred animals open the
| door OF the pen and allow them to escape into
| the forest at the same time raising a wild
| turmoil and calling upon the assembled wor-
| shippers to Join In the pursuit. This Is the
| signal for the commencement OF the celebra-
| ton {: in an instant torches are 1T. and yelling
| Economically. the worshippers join in the
| pursuit. which is continued until the unfortu-
nate beasts are captured and returned to the
| sacred pen.
| All Is now ready for the second and more i'm =
| portant part of the great function. The large
| temple. where this takes place. is really huge
| subterranean vault. originally n natural cave.
| over which a building has been erected as an
| entrance 1t was In semi darkness US we en- =
| tered. therefore it was not easy to determine
| its exact proportions. but it appeared to he
| about eighty feet long and about half as broad.
| A series OF recesses had been cut on each side
and were filled with repulsive looking idols.
| the substantial incarnation OF the evil spiritual
| gentlemen to be worshiped.
| The entrance end OF the subterranean temple
| was occupied by the "koaks. bearing torches.
which shed a ftfuI light over the assembly
| forming weirdly indescrbable picture. At
| the other end was square stone altar. i'm
nlersed in gloomy shadows here it was that
tho devil spirits were to manifest themselves
| 10 the we-strcken worshppers. who. at a
| signal from one OF the priests, Frustrated
| themselves on the ground. chanting in wild
| tones and repeatedly slappng their nearby
neighbors on the back, Meanwhile several OF
| the priests left the group and entered the dark
recess in the rear Of the altar. for the purpose
| OF invoking the devils. In this quest they
must have been successful for. in few
| moments with startling abruptness and
| accompanied by the most bloOd-curdling
yells. a strange figure lenped into the uncer-
| tain gloom OF the altar. On the appearance OF