Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-14
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

Death among the Manobos is con-
sidered the work of malignant spirits.
Every man, Garvan relates, believes
that he has three souls: One dwells
within his body, where it is safe. The
other two trail the body like shadows
But sometimes one Of them will wander
of into the forest by itself, without
the knowledge OF its owner. Then it
may be waylaid by one of the demons,
who will keep 1t in captivity until he is
ready 10 devour 1t.
When this happens, the owner Of the
soul becomes sick. When the demon
treatment of the sick is TO secure the
release Of the captive. The priests call
upon the good spirits to go to the res
cue and describe great battles which
are fought with the demons. Death
means that the ghouls have conquered.
THE utter fear. not only Of the ma
lignant spirits, but also of the person
of the dead and of his soul. is one of
the most peculiar features Of Manobo
culture" says Garvan. In the death
chamber and lowering around the rest
ing place of the dead there is certain
noxious influence, by the infection of
which one is likely 10 become an OBJ
tect of attraction to the dark-visaged,
hungry soul ghoulS that, lured by the
odor. stalk to the death house and await
an opportunity to secure victim.
The enviouS spirits of the dead also
are feared. In their eagerness to par
take Of the farewell and the death feast
they avail themselves Of every oppor-
tunity to injure the living. Sickness,
especially that in which the only synp-
toms are emaciation and debility, are
attributed TO their noxious influence.
Offerings to the Dead.
Offerings are made to the dead to
appease their Ill will. One or more
priests are present invariably in the
death chamber. The female priests
take up their position near the corpse.
and the women Euddie around them
with many startled glance. On one
occasion I saw a male priest stand at
the door lance poised, ready to dis
patch spirits which tried to intrude,
Drums and gongs are beaten through
the night as a menace to the demons.
An acquaintance of mine Is reported to
have wounded seven evil spirits in one
evening after a death. was assured
by many in the town that they had
seen the CORY lance after each en-
counter.
a fire is kept burning under the
house, and magic implements are placed
under the floor Food while in the proc
ess of cooking is never left unguarded
lest some malicious spirit slyly insert
poison For several days before and
after the death supper is almost in
variably eaten before sunset, as this is
the hour when the most mighty Of the
demons are supposed to go forth. If
it should be necessary To take supper
,anN Sc ha @1-f, IA sa..
tom to put mat on the floor 70 foil
the spirits in their endeayors to slip
some banefui influence into the plates
from below.
After the burial it Is almost an in
variable rule for the inmates Of a house
TO abandon IT, Should stranger or
one who Is not relative Of the in
mates die in a house, 1t is an estab-
lshed custom to collect the value of a
house from his relatives. I was asked
by a warrior chief on the Upper Tago
who would pay for the house in the
case Of my death
Danger Transferring Corpse.
Getting the corpse to its grave. as de-
Scribed Ey CArvan, is considered an I'M
dertsking of great danger. Amid great
wailing the coffln is carried hastily from
the house The priests take up their
side with balanced lanceS and shields
vi place. The men shout wildly to scare
away the demons who may have got
the scent OF death and to warn strangers
that q funeral procession is on the road,
so that they can avoid it. It is very
unlncky to meet such a procession.
A high piece of ground in the heart
Of the forest is chosen and cleared.
Fires are built around 1t to ward Off the
spirits. ard the grsyediggers work in
absolute silence. The coffin is covered
hastily, q roof placed over the grave
and q fence built around it. Men are
buried with their feet TO the east and
women with their feet TO the west.
Then the nourners huTTiedly efface the
footprints they have left In the loose
clay ard scsrry away, leaving the de-
parted in company with the spirits of
darkness. Heneeforth the spot always
viii be avoided as q place of terror
Back in the village. all who have as-
sisted at the ceremony purify them
selves with mixture OF water and
herbs.
This practice Is practically invariable,
Garvan relates, except in the case of
some one killed in battle or a priest
The latter Is supposed to have seven
souls, who can fight or ! the demons
without any assistance after burial