The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-13

walls from 20 to 30 feet high, need to be built.
 The sparsely peopled island of Paragua Is largely inhabited by the Tagbanuas, an extremely wild tribe of Malay origin. They are nomadic in tendency and gen erally harmless, but those of the noun tain district of Bono Bono will not permit the intrusion of strangers to their terri tory, and the prohibition applies to other Tagbanuas. These mountain savages use bamboo blowguns and poisoned darts with great effect and are held in fear by the rest of the population. They trade with strangers in a peculiar fashion. No i'm mediate communication is held. Each party places his goods-cerenls in one case and cloth or tobacco In the other-at designated spot and the bartering Is done at distance greater than the range of a blowgun. After the trade Is com pleted each person separately takes away the goods belonging to him. The Moham- madam Moros of Mindanao are settled along the coasts or upon the banks of the large lakes. The interior districts arc oc- cupisd largely by pagan tribes, of which the subanos. numbering upward of 23,oOO are the most important They inhabir the forests, where they build nest-like dwell ing elevated upon poles for the sake of defense Near the houses are erected what may be called totem posts, sur mounted by small models of ships and houses. In these receptacles food is placed as a propitiatory offering to a powerful deity with malignant tendencies Following a practice of the Moros, to whom they have been in subjection for generations the Subanos blacken and Ale the teeth of males and females, com mencing at the age of puberty. Ten or l5 years later the teeth have become ground away almost TO the gums False teeth made from carabao horn are then sometimes attached to the stumps, but serve no purpose beyond that of orna- ment The ears of the female child are pierced at an early age. and thereafter the lobe Is stretched and the hole en- larssd until 1t is as large as a 25-cent coin. The arms and chest of the male child are, burned from time to time. in order to Induce courage and fortitude, but despite the practice, or perhaps on ac- count of 1t, the Subanos are a timld and cowardly people
 The Subanos used to make human sac rinces in honor of dead chiefs. or tim buayes, and the practice Is not altogether extinct. Family life among these people Is maintained on a high plane, the great est deference being shown to women. The Subanos are uncleanly but industri- ous, and but for the fear of being robbed by the Moros would doubtless be much more productive than they are.
 peculiar tribe of hillmen Is found In the mountains of Southern Mindanao. Very little Is known of the Bilans, for they flee at the approach of strangers. and carry their exclusiveness to the ex- tent of living each family apart from all others. A Bilan hut is at least half mile from the next. This arrangement may have originated in a shrewd scheme to avoid ncursions by the Moros, who would find the task of raiding such widely scattered settlements both trouble some and unproftable.
 What may be done with the wild tribes has been illustrated at Santa Cruz, about 25 miles from Davao, in Mindanao, where a schoolteacher named Wood has Induced several hundred rude Bagobos from the interior to settle. A model will age has been laid out. with clean streets well-kept houses and gardens. MT. Wood is the sole representative of civilization