er to gain the
right to wear a red suit, be warriors. On the contrary he may kill women
and children from ambush and still receive credit for the achievement,
provided his victims are from a hostile village. He may count those of
his townspeople whom he has killed in fair fight, and the murder of an
unfaithful wife and her admirer is credited to him as a meritorious
deed.

The workers in iron and brass, the weavers of hemp cloth, and the
mediums or shamans--known as _mabalian_--are under the protection of
special deities for whom they make ceremonies at certain times of the
year.

The _mabalian_ just mentioned are people--generally women past middle
life--who, through sufficient knowledge of the spirits and their desires,
are able to converse with them, and to make ceremonies and offerings
which will attract their attention, secure their good will, or appease
their wrath. They may have a crude knowledge of medicine plants, and, in
some cases, act as exorcists. The ceremonies which art performed at the
critical periods of life are conducted by these _mabalian_, and they
also direct the offerings associated with planting and harvesting. They
are generally the ones who erect the little shrines seen along the
trails or in the forests, and it is they who put offerings in the
"spirit boxes" in the houses. Although they, better than all others,
know how to read the signs and warnings sent by the spirits, yet, all of
the people know the meaning of certain omens sent through the medium of
birds and the like. The call of the _limokon_[10] is recognized as an
encouragement or a warning and its message will be heeded without fail.
In brief, every natural phenomenon and every living thing is caused by
or is subject to the will of unseen beings, who in turn can be
influenced by the acts of individuals. As a result everything of
importance is undertaken with reference to these superior powers.

[10] A dove (_Calcophops indica_). Similar beliefs held by the Tagalog
were mentioned by Juan de Plasencia in 1589. See BLAIR and ROBERTSON,
Vol. VII, p. 189.

DWELLINGS--HOUSEHOLD UTENSILS.

The houses found in the coast villages line well marked streets and
differ in few respects from those built by the Christianized natives
throughout the Islands. Even in the more isolated districts the effect
of this outside influence is marked. However, we can state with
confidence that village life is a new idea to the Bagobo. He has, from
time imm