The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-22
BLOOD-BEDAUBED RITES
REMARKABLE RELIGIOUS VIEWS
OF THE DAvATAWI YEzIAS.
They Are warlike But Prosperous
And Hold Annual Meetings in a
Spbterranean Cavern Where "Dev-
iis'' Are Worshiped And Appeased
By Fearful Tortues.


many wonderful religious ceremonies.
There are strange sects on the islands,
and one OF the most mysterious is the
Davatawi Yezias. a small race num-
bering several thousands of the most
fanatical Mohammedans of the island
of Mindanao. Although numerically
inferior to the great tribes surrounding
them. their bold and warlike nature has
preserved them from aggression, and for
hundreds Of years they have maintain
ed unique faith, differing entirely
from that Of the other savage tribes
of the islands. Their chief village is
Sheiha, in southern Mindanao. Few
Europeans have ever entered this mys-
ferrous place, and fewer still have wit
messed the strange rites performed by
them. Even the barbarous Philippine
tribes aScribe n supernatural reputa-
ton TO that land, and shun it as the
abode of devils and malevolent evil
spirits.
During my explorations in the Phil
ippines, / fortunately reached this
strange city just before the yearly cele-
bration was to take place. The Yezias,
although fanatically brave when their
religion is asSailed. are a mild and
peaceable race of agriculturalists, and
we were invited TO view the subsequent
ceremonies. The precepts of the sect
may well puzzle ethnologists. for while
all the other Philippine tribes are ZEN
gagged in worshiping numerous gods
and deitieS and Dereniallt bent in en-
comprising the destruction of devils
and evil spirits, they have adopted an
antithetical religion, paying all homage
to maleVOlent deitieS while seeking to
destroy all good ones. Yet these peo-
pie are prosperous and in every way
superior to
THEIR SAVAGE NEIGHBORS.
On the third day after our arrival
we were led by one Of the priests to a
small valley TO the northeast of the vii
lage. This was an idyllic retreat, shut
in from the outer world by an immense
mountain range. The hillsides and de-
clivities were well wooded and beyond.
stretched the dark, impenetrable for
ests which the devils were supposed to
habitate. In the middle of the glen
was large, matched temple, surround
ed on all sides for several hundred feet
by numerous coffin-shaped structures
followed out OF tree trunks. They had
be en- placed in the ground, with a small
slft down on one side and covered with
n umerous cabalistic symbols denoting
1 he residence of some particular devils.
at the back of the main temple a series
of sheltered alcOve-like pens contained
the sacred animals to be sacrificed dur
ing the ceremony. They were tended by
several of the more important priests,
whose duty It is to seek certain trees
lin the forest known to be the abode of
devils, and. with their branches. to
chastise the sacred animals. in order
that they may imbibe some of the much
desired evil tendency. The animals are
also forced TO drink potent drugs con-
cocted by the witch doctors from the
roots of various sacred trees and
plants. The frequent chastisement and
the drugs reduce the animals, usually
dogs and cattle, to a comparatively
wild state, and their constant cries
serve to attract the devils from the for
est to the temple homes which have
been provided for them.
When By various subtle conversations
and magical Vaccinations. the priests
are convinced that this object has been |
word is sent to the different
villages of the tribe,
APPOINTING A NIGHT
for all to gather in the sacred valley |
10 take part iii the great annual cele- |
bration. AS soon as il is dark, the 1
priests who have charge of the sacred |
animals open the door of the pen and 4
allow them to escape into the forest, !
at the same time raising wild hula |
balloo and calling upon the assembled !
to join in the pursuit. This |
is the signal for the commencement of |
the celebration, and in an instant torch
es are lit. and, with wild tumUlt. the |
Join in the pursuit. II is /
continued for several days. until the /
beasts are captured and re- |
turned to the sacred pen.
All is now ready for the second and
more important part Of the great func-
ton. The large temple. where this is
to occur, is really a huge subteTranean
vault. originally a natural cave, over
which a building has been erected as
an entrance. 1t was in semi-darkness
when we entered, and ii was. therefore, |
not easy to determine its exact proper
tons, but it appeared to be about S0X40
feet. \ series of recesses had been cut
On each side and We're tilled with the
most repulsive-loOking idols which the
human mind could well imagine. the
incarnation of the numer-
Jus evil-spirited gentlemen who We're
10 be Worshiped.
The entrance end of the subterranean
temple was occupied by the "koaks."
bearing the torches. which shed a fitful
light over the assembly. AT the other
md was a
SQUARE, STONE ALTAR.
immersed in a gloomy shadow. In this
[ was that the devil spirits were to
manifest themselves to the awe-strick- I
n worshiDers, who, at a signal from
me of the priests. FRUSTRATED them
selves to the ground, chanting and re-
,eatedly Shaping their nearby neigh
lOrS on the backs. Meanwhile several
If the priests left the group and enter
a the dark recess in the rear of the
-ltar. for the purpose of implOring the !
'evils TO manifest themselves. In few
with startling abruptness and
accompanied bS the most blood curd- 4
ing yeils a strange figure leaped into !
he uncertain gloom of the altar The I
.Orshipers leaDed 10 their feet in S
renZied fury and dashed themselves
With knives and sticks until the blood | Z
lowed Tho devil spirit then retired to | :
he shade of darkness. while a more
ncanny visitor appeared. running
ouud on all fours and covered with
he skin Of a wild beast. He was fol-
owed by other 'ghostly' visitors. each {
ne known TO the worshipers by name.
hose appearance was the signal for
speated prayers, enunciated with such +
renZied zeal that the din was deafen-
lg.
THE LAST OF THE DEVILS
aving disappeared. the sacred ami !
ials were brought in and slaughtered C
nd their bodies placed on top of a [
uge funeral pyre. The flames leaped c
ut. the smoke Allied the dingy cave. | I
nd with frightful bowls, the Worshin-
rs reascended from the temple. ming b
ng in groups gathered before the small [
)ffin-like structures where the devils | e
ould gather after feaSting on the ami T.
lals. The functions Of the supernat- @
raj inhabitant of these dwellings were y
enoted by the fetch signs adjoining (
lie outside. Accordingly. before one
no was supposed to be powerful