Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09

/
monograph lust issued by the Ma
ttoHdi Academy OF S-iences
Some of the worlds most primitive
people dwell under the Stars and
Stripes.
An intimate picture of primitive life
with its terrors and groupings in the
explanation of things as they are, has
Just been issued here with the dis
guished imprint of the National Aca-
denny. the senate" of American science,
1t is a monograph on the people g.
Manoboland prepared for the National
Academy by an American trader, John
M. Garyan. who for more than 20 years
dwelt among the dark-Skinned natives
of the mountains of eastern Mindanao,
in the Philippines. Seldom has liber-
ally educated white man capable OF
making objective observations lived so
long on such intimate terms with a
primitive race and returned to civiliza-
ton to tell about it.
Garvan saw Manobo life from the in
side Thus his report to the National
Academy Is considered as having much
greater scientific significance than
would the observations of any out
slider. however competent. He was in
duced by academy members to return
to the United States for the purpose
Of preparing this report.
Little known Heretofore.
The Manobo tribes, believed to be
representatives of the Filipino type be-
fore the prehistoric invasion OF the
Malays, hitherto have been known to
anthropologists only through the oc-
casional reports Of missionaries. In
many respects he is close to the foot
of human culture, although some groups
have absorbed a great deal from con-
facts with more advanced tribes.
He counts. Garvan relates. on his
fingers and toes He he's never had
system of writing He can count
by tens I'D TO 100, which number, Gar
van believes. represents to him infinity.
He divides the year only into lunar
months and reckons his years by the
recurrence of the rice harvesting sea-
son and seldom can count backward
more than four or flve years. Garvan
seldom met Manobo who had any
idea of his age or could Judge the age
OF another. Painting and architecture
are unknown, but the native carves
rude and fantastic wooden images.
But, says Garvan, the observation
of nature Is marvellous. He has come to
possess marvellous powers Of sight and
observation Within his own district
the position OF every tree is known.
Every stream and every part of it, every
mountain, every part of the forest is
known and has its appropriate name.
THE Manobo character has been
much maligned by missionaries who
seem not to have distinguished between
the pagan and the man. Upon hrst
acquaintance the Manobo is timid and
suspicious. due to the extreme cautious
ness that teaches him to guard life
that among his own people has only
nominal value My own visits were
frequently preceded by rumors that
had magic power to poison. Surprise
must not be expressed at anything that
takes place. The mere question as to
what is beyond such and such noun
tain or where are the headwaters Of
such and such a stream may start the
fun flame of suspicion.
They believe In an eye for an eye.
Revenge is a stern. fundamental, eternal
law. consecrated by the breath of the
dying. The Manobo has a very limited
conception of the extent of the outside
world and the number of its Inhabitants.
He is inclined to believe that one
American knows every other and may
be related by blood. Hence any i'm