The National tribune., 1904-01-21
RELIGION IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Some Tribes Have None by Very Prominent
Numerous Deities.
By nYLAND c. KIRK.
COPYRIGHT 1904 BY nYLAsD q Kmx.

IL one happens 10 De nylng IN Mofo
town of the Philippines, and hears great
outcry in a neigkboring ualay, or native
house, accompanied by such sounds as
"Saquit-casaquit liuauau ulu laki!'
"Grief-sorrow ON my headv' he may feel
tolerably sure that some member Of that
family is dead and that the funeral ser
vices have promptly begun. LIZ the de-
ceased is q datto orr person of prominence,
a crowd will assemble in front of the
dwelling, professional walters will come
In, presently lantacas, and perhaps can
non, will be brought, the panditas or
priests will enter, and amid the lulls OF
shouting and firing without, one may pos.
sibly hear the alteration of prayers and
lamentation within; all confusedly blend
ing to produce a most complete prodiglous
discord.
Yet this is an entirely consistent mani
festation of Moro character and faith. In
the lamentations, his sorrow is evidenced
SO that all may be Gully impressed; the
prayers are for the safety of the departed
spirit; while the shouts and military DIS
play are intended to intimidate the black
angels seeking to torture the lonely soul
on it's perilous way across Iltay, Magui-
put, the narrow bridge, no wider than the
single thread Of uaiay "a lalaua (spiders
web, yet as long and deep as Dunia 1.-THE
world), over which AL mankind must
sooner or later pass. II no evil impedes,
this transit is made swiffer than kilab (the
5 lightning's FASH; but if. the soul is tinged
with sin, the Miadadaf; Maitem (black
angels are sure to divert its course and 1t
drops into pingas di mafecad, or bottom
less pit. where, with hafidels and bias
phemers, it receives all the fortunes 1T de-
serves. These torments: come not from
sulphurous flames, but are inflicted by
ebon-hued imps armed with cunnlngly-
contrived implements for that purpose.
After the body is buried in the cemetery,
the head of a cock is placed on the grave.
with live coal upon it, a. symbolic warn
ing to the same dusky spirits not to inter-
fere with the course of the departed. AT
times visits are made to the grave, and
the lonely one is encouraged in his contest
with the dark powers Of the mid-worid by
repeated cries of: "PanGuinguileke dir
: (Have no fear), "Talu mannarau! (Speak
boldly, and similar phrases. Food Is
sometimes placed on the grave for refresh
ment of travellers and to secure their good
win.
There is usually some relation indicated
between burial customs "a ideas OF
future life. The Samales of Mindanao
prior to their conversion We're accustomed
to bury their dead in collins made of two
pieces of wood, one fitting over the other.
sThese We're placed upon elevated plat
forms with a matched covering, in natural
cayerns, or excavations in rocks. Food OF
various sorts was also placed near, but
this was for the benefit of the departed
rather than the living.
FEAsTs OF THE FUNERAL.
The Subanos, in their burial customs,
s-aouvert the sacrifices TO Diuata -sa -langit,
the god of heaven, into a funeral feast,
which they consume without uttering
-yord, and conclude by turning all the
Dishes pans and kettles upside, down. The
n thn hn3y ic WI aa1 in
sail-cloth or mating, grave is dug some
three or four feet deep, near the house of
the deceased, and the intermeHt is made
on a framework Of canes at the bottom of
the grave, covered with leaves. The body
In its wrappings is placed on this and an
other framework constructed above 1t,
upon which food, clothing and the weapons
of the deceased, il a warrior, are placed.
The grave is then filed in with great care,
and the sacrifcial feast follows. The
period OF mourning is concluded on the
eighth day, when another feast ID held and
chickens, eggs, rice, buyo and tobacco and
copious quantities Of rice-beer are con-
: sumed. Singing, dancing and general pa
layer follow; and the feast concludes with
a ceremony in which the priest formally
transfers the soul OF the deceased to the
celestial realms, and respectfully entreats
it to go quietly along with Diuata-sa-lan-
git, and make no more trouble for its
friends.
: = The Monteses, who occupy the noun
tain region OF north central Mindanao,
bury their warriors in the open country
with spear, kris, and bolo beside them.
Crossed stakes are fixed over the grave
upon which protective covering Of bark
: or nipa is constructed. A bag Of rice is
suspended from above the tomb, that the
: defunct may have food sufficient to sus-
tain him on his way to the top OF Mount
Balatacan, from whose summit each soul
takes leap into the next world, landing
> high up in Heaven, or in the lowest depths,
according to the deeds done in the body.
After making this great leap there is no
chance or possibility of the souls rising
higher: it must through eternity remain at
the level attained in that leap. They make
| great ado when death occurs, something
after the manner Of the Moros, and when
the deceased Is held in great respect the
period OF mourning may continue for a
month. Among the mountain tribes this
period Is always indicated by the long
flowing hair, which is unrolled during this
time and allowed to hang freely. The hair
Is never cut, but ordinarily is rolled into
q knot and tied with a musala, or kerr
chief.
SOARING DEATH WITH NOISE.
When one Of the Tagbanuas Of Pala-
wan Is found to be very sick, his friends
gather with horns, gongs and drums, and
give concert outside the inyalid's abode
with a view to cheering him upbAnd fright
ening away the evil spirit that torments
him. Meanwhile no one is allowed to ap-
proach the sick person, and after the DEM
onstration is over he is generally willing
TO die; at least strangers in the islands
who have heard 1t agree that no person i'm
the best OF health could be fairly expected
to survive such horrible noise. At all
events, it is the practice for the person
about to die to settle the details of his
funeral in advance: locate bis own grave,
and tell the effects, quantity of food,
clothing and weapons he desires buried
with him. Immediately after death the
door is carefully sprinkled with ashes,
and all relatives and attendants retire for
q time. Then they cautiously return and
examine the ashes; for it sometimes hap
pens that the soul in leaving its Life tene.