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

/ idols and fetish boxes while in time OF war
! they served as q safe retreat that might be de-
| Tended easily against bands OF head hunters.
The inland tribes have descended. II such a
thing were possible. to an even lower order OF
| civilization. They generally have no dress at
all. save small sandals with iron solos to pro-
tect their feet in passing over the rugged
mountain country. although tho chiefs and
| women are attired more pretentious.y in q
/ long garment extending from the head to the
knees. woven Of goats hair or OF dried grass
Though both gold and silver are to be found.
| these metals are never used as ornaments. but
| are invariably constructed into small images.
/, with which the native temples are adorned
| The number Of these precious baubles Is aston
| ishing and II 10 not surprising that they should
| tempt the cupidity OF covetous neighbors
| causing almost incessant warfare. occasioned
| by the pundering forays OF one tribe upon
| another AS the people possess n deeply relig-
ious nature. these idols are guarded
| with tho greatest rigor Over the front
| OF each dwelling n small idol OF
| this character. constructed OF gold. silver
| or some baser metal. Is placed. and
this grotesque and inanimate form serves as
the tutear deity Of the people occupying the
abode. unique method Of revenge is car
ried on by means OF these idols II man
should hear ll-will against a neighbor it ia
only necessary that he should steal the idol OF
the latter. when the family deprived Ia
| stunned by the rest Of the tribe and no inter
course held with the members OF it until the
stolen object is returned or the insult is con-
| doned by one faction completely destroying
the other in n sanguinary feud which is liable
| to last for years and even generations.
| The Davatawi are fond OF personal adorn-
| ment. Tattooing Is very common among both
sexes. and some OF the more influential mem
bers of the tribe are covered from head to foot
| with grotesque designs. so that in ono group
| ono Is liable to sec n red man in conversation
with individuals Of every color known to earth.
sea or sky. In addition. enormous ornaments
Of iron are worn various parts Of the body;
sometimes n woman will carry round ffty
| pounds OF ankle rings and bracelets. forming.
| AS itwere. a travelling savings bank. since the
Importance OF her husband 10 measured by the
amount Of these barbarous ornaments worn
by his many wives. The burden OF these orna-
ments must be enormous. yet both men and
women have stateliness Of carriage. and. when
occasion demands. are exceedingly active.
The ruangs. or native priests. have almost
| unlimited power. They are the real rulers OF
| the country although II would be impossible
to imagine more rascally crew OF deceivers
! and charlatans As among most savage tribes.
religious feeling Ia deeply rooted among these
people. the prscepts OF their faith being those
of the lowest forms Of paRanism. Human
| TlHce ID CCmluOu AMONG many lTlueS. anu Some
OF the Davatawi OF the small islands OF the
Sulu archipelago. in addition. cannbas Of
| OF the worst order. Reverence to tho memory
of ancestors is an important feature OF the
| Davatawi religious code. Twice year. or
oftener among some tribes. the natives engage
in week OF fasting. when pilgrimagss are
made to the repositories OF the dead. In the case
OF those who can afford 1t, sheep and cattle are
led to the grave OF the deceased ancestor and
nod he hau h,,t ha-
shippers beating and nceratiag themselves
with knives and thorn -pronged whips. until the
entire body is covered with gashes and bathed
in blood. At signal from the ruang the ami
mails are slaughtered ono by one and the fresh
blood caught in earthenwar VESSELS: this Is
then mixed with powders and herbs. which are
supposed to contain potent properties. and the
sacred potion is passed around for all to drink
to insure immunity from the attacks OF ma
| levolent demon spirits.
1t is the custom with many tribes to preserve
the skulls OF their slaughtered enemies as tro-
phes OF their success In war. AS the posses
sion OF a certain number OF heads is necessary
before man can he admitted to some Of the
more i'm ortant social and political privileges
of the tribe IL Is not uncom mon for single in
| dvduas to go on private head hunting expe-
ditions. These CHASTITY trophies are hung on q
| long pole surmounting each dwelling.
| The ruangs likewise serve as witch doctors
and pretend to be infallibe in detecting crime
and furnishing sorcerers and witches. When
man is taken i'll the priests called in to
rerform the necessary ceremonial rites to rid
the body OF the evil spirits supposed to possess
it. A cure is usually sought to be effected by
exposing the unfortunate on the roof OF his
dwelling. or by hurying him in the earth up to
| his neck and allowing the sun to beat down
upon his head in order that the evil spirit may
be consumed. The result OF this lack OF knowl-
edge Of how to treat even the simplest OF dis
| eases is to cause the plaques and pestilences
which occur at such frequent intervals that one
cannot help wondering how the entire popua-
tion escapes being swept away. Ihad a prac-
teal illustration OF the faith placed in these
| fantastic mummers for while travelling.
through one village we came upon man
buried up to his neck in the earth. exposed to
the broinG hot sun without shelter or pro-
lection Of any kind. On questioning the
villagers we learned thnt he had been suffering
with severe pains In his head. aud that this
infallibs method had been adopted to effect
his cure. On our arrival the unfortunate vic
tim was raging like mailman. and in an
effort to cure what had been perhaps but a
trining headache or n touch OF the sun. this
treatment had driven him insane. We could
not endure the sight Of his agony and ordered
him dug up and taken 10 n cool place in one OF
the huts, advice which was met with fiat
refusal to allow him to be removed, refusal
which his own relatives supported. and they
seemed much put out that we had dared to
question the wisdom OF the ruang who had
ordered this heroic proceeding
The ceremonies and functions gone through
with on the occasion OF birth. marriage or
, death are very peculiar. When a child Is to BIO
born tho woman is isolated from the rest OF the
tribe in some forest hut or cave and provided
with a sranty supply OF food and water until
the child is born. when she returns to the viii
lage and places the child in her husband
dwelling. He. in the meantime. has passed the
time In a head hunting expedition. On return
ing. he finds the child but tho wife absent. and
Immediately searches for her In all directions
II. at the end OF three days, he has not found
her. his possession OF the child ceases and it
may be seized upon by the chic! OF the village
or the head man to be brought up as a slave or
as one Of their immediate warrior attendants.