The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-02-15
Ancient Pagan Customs Observed
i'm Our Eastern Possessions.

AAlllCi lNtlll iillDOlOAiftl ANitp WIZ ~
pect to carry on evangelical work
in the Philippine Islands will find
no dearth of native pagan relig-
ions and religious customs to
combat. In the various large is
lands comprising the archipelago
many odd rites are practiced and
many strange gods believed in.
During the past quarter OF a
century the Investigations made
by indefatigable travellers and
Spanish priests who have dwelt
among the natives have brought
to light some curious and inter
esting facts concerning the relig-
ions of the different tribes. The
pagan natives believe in a remark
able medley of gods and occult in
fuences, investing the produc-
tiOns of the earth as well as tho
celestial bodies with sacred and
mighty powers, either good or
malign. 1t is important also to
note that, while their religious
ceremonies are crude and often
puerile, there has been found in
their vague and jumbled panthe-
istic system a remarkable resem-
blance in several instances to the
ancient religions Of Egypt and
India.
Some of the least savage tribes
hold very pronounced beliefs con-
cerning the progenitor Of the hui
man race. The Aelam of the Ill
ocan tribe is known as Augngalo,
a giant, who created the world by
order of supreme being, a be-
lief similar to that prevalent in
Ceylon, where it is declared,
there is on the summit of the
Mount of Adam a gigantic foot
print, left by Adam when he
sprang from the heavens upon
the earth.
The belief in after life is very
general. Among the Northern
Illocans the souls or shades of
the defunct are known as Anioaas,
who remain upon the earth in
sadness and darkness, frequent
ing the places where their bodies
were accustomed TO be in life.
Sometimes they assume their
corporeal forms and appear to
their friends or relatives. The
Illocans hold that each mortal has
three different souls-the Kar-
karnia (the soul Of the living), the
Alalia (that of the dead and the
Anioaas chat of the living and
dead.
The Apo is a title Of reverence
given to the demons Buker and
Kaibaanes (genii or spirits, good
and bad), who dwell in the trunks
of high trees and in the interior
of great rocks. The name Bat
traia-which is held to be of Sans
krit origin-is given to a num-
Der of Filipino gods. The chief
god of the ancient Tagals was
known as Badhala or Bathala
mey-Kapal, who was believed to
be personitied by the bird Tig-
mamanukin. The same deSigna-
ton is given by the iragals to
comets or certain other celestial
phenomena, which they believe to
presage great events. la the re-
ligion of the natives of the island
of Mindanao there is u god Badia,
only son of another great deity,
Mansilatan, who preserves and
defends mankind from fraud and
treachery of the demons Pudang-
non and Malimbung. 1t is held
that the word Batala or Badia is
simply Il variation and abbrevia-
ton of Batura-gura, the title some
times given to silva, who, with
Brahma and Vishnu, constitute
the trinity of the Hindu religion.
A curious instance of sorcery
known as Bongat is still in vogue
among the natives ON the island
of Mindanao. 1t is brought into
play when a robbery has been
committed and the thief is un-
known. In two followed cane
stalks Il mysterious powder is
preserved. A bit Of this powder
from one cane is blown intoahen $
egg, through small hole in the
shell, and the egg is then laid
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