uently, if one brother ransomed
another brother, or a son his father, the latter remained a slave,
as did his descendants, until the value of the ransom was paid with
interest. Consequently, the captive was gainer only by the change of
master. Such as the above are the monstrous things that are seen where
the law of God and Christian charity are lacking. In the division made
between heirs, when a slave belonged to many, the time of his service
was divided and each of the masters had the share that belonged to him
and was his in such slave; and the division was made by months, or as
was convenient among the masters. When a slave is not a whole slave
but only a half or fourth part, he has the right to compel his master
to give him his freedom for the just price at which he is appraised,
according to the rank of the slavery, sanguiguilir or namamahay. But
if he be a whole slave, the master cannot be compelled to ransom him
at any price, even though he should have become a slave for debt,
if already the day set for the payment of the debt has passed.

127. There was another kind of service which was not of a truth
servitude, although it appeared to be such. It was generally seen among
certain persons called cabalangay. Whenever such persons wanted any
small trifle, they begged the head chief of their barangay for it,
and he gave it to them. In return, whenever he summoned them they
were obliged to go to him to work in his fields or to row in his
boats. Whenever a feast or banquet was given, then they all came
together and helped furnish the tuba, wine, or quilan, such being
their method of service.

128. The ancient custom in manumission was for the whole sanguiguilir
slave to pay ten taes of gold, and the namamahay the half; and,
in addition to that, he had to give the half of whatever things
he owned. For instance, if he owned two large jars he had to give
one. In order to make that conveyance, the slave must make a banquet,
at which were present masters, relatives, and friends. At the height of
the banquet the delivery of the gold and household articles was made,
those present being witnesses that the master had received them. The
latter was thereupon satisfied, and the slave was set free.

Even today the Tagalogs are wont, at death, to grant freedom to the
children of their slaves who are born in their house, no matter how
young they be. However, they do not free the parents of those children
no matter how old they b