The Subanuns of Sindangan Bay [microform]

1909·75.5 MB·English

by  Christie, Emerson Brewer

SEE FOLDOUT NO
/
BUEEAIJ OF SCIENCE
Division OF ETHMOL0GY PUBLICATIONS
VOL. VI-PAET
I
THE SUBANUNS OF SINDANGAN BAY
BY
EMERSON BREWER
CHRISTIE
^ * « *»i
* «
,
® *»j
^ ® » * ® ® • ® ®
®®#.f®»t#©*Jr®®**®'«®#®9««»®»®»#a#"®®'» ® «
»
MANILA
BUEEAU OF FEINTING
S2»7
i^
T!!E ?iir^ TtT.1t
public: libi'ary
B06204A
1^
R L
»« ®li
© « f ® ® ® ^
9 #
® ® #® 9 *®® a ® 9
® ® ®® ## t ®#« ®#.
Part
I
THE SUBANUNS OF SINDANGAN BAY
[3]
'-^'i J Mi H.,
^ U
:,,.r^'"'i
'
CONTENTS
PART
I,
Page.
Preface 9
.,,,.. , ..,.._...,. _,, ^
Chai^ee
I
Habitat and history n
,,......,...,.. .,.„...,.... ....;
Name
..,.,..,,.,.... .........,„,......,.,,.,..,,, „.......„..,.,... 11
HaWtet
..»..,...- ,.,.,.,...,..,...... .„.,.., ' 11
GeogmpMeal divisions ,,.,.„„.. ,.,.,. „-.....,.....„.,..,...,... , - m
History
,._......,,.,.. ....,........,, ,. 17
Early historical refereaecB ..,..,..,.,..,...,....,. .,.,., 17
Early missionary efforts .._.....,......... .»..,...,.......,,„.....,...,.....„..,....... Ill
More recent missionary efforts „,.,.. .„....,.. ..: 24
Relations with the Moros ., , , ..,........,,. , „„.,.,.... ... 25
Tribute paid to the Moros ..,....,.,..... ....,..,..., ....... 25
FirKt arrival of the Moros ..,., .,,., 27
C1I4PTEE II
Material culture .,,.,.,.. gg
Houses
™._...,.........,..,,,..,.... ,...,........:....,.......,. ^........... ;|S
CoMstrmctioE ,......,.., : „. 3H
Interior fiirnishings ..., , .,...,... S7
Industries
.,...,......,..,,......,. , 41,
Pottery and basket making ,....,..-.,...,..,............, ,., 41
Weaving
........,..,.......,._.......... .,.....,,. .._.... 42
Metal m^orking «_..•..—....__„_...,........................,... 42
Trade ___
.,,.. ....!._. ...,. 4:]
Agriculture
,;...., 415
Chaftee III
Family
life ._,..,......,. .„.....,...,.„ ™........:...,...... 50
Customs relating to birth 50
The eWld
....™..,.........,......_........... ..,,,,..,..,..............._......,...,_..., .„ §2
Marriage customs
^ ^- ....,......;.......:............... ...,._.............. 54
Bivorce ...•...,,..,........._.......,.,......:..„.,.....„ ._„ ,....,.....,.....,. gg
Beath and burial ...,............«..,„..,., *..................,.... ._„, 59
Social -control ...._..... .._,........,.....,...,........ gi
• The chieftaincy .,._.._........, 01
Administration of juaticei trials .,.*.... 03
. Fines and penalties v..., .._.......,.....,. 04
Moro control of the Snbannns ....>. _^ Og
Spanish control of the''Snbannns ...-........•«....„.„ ..,„ ey
5
[5]
6 THB SUBANUNS OP SINDANGAN BAY
Cbaftes V
Religion -0
, -... _^
The medicine man . ~j
^
Religious ceremonies
„.„. _ 73
The hukiug
, 73
• Festival to celebrate recovery of the sick 75
Buklvg in memory of the dead
7$
The UmalU' „ gj
Functions of the medicine man
gg
Ceremonies observed in divination and in magic 85
m
Ceremonies in connection with agricultural operations....
Ceremonies in connection with house building 87
Ceremonies in connection with hunting j^
Some ^neral conclusions on Subanun religion 90
Ghapteb VI
Tale: -
*A ; - - «.. 93
story of the widow's son go
^
A ,
story of PunbEnua, who went to the navel of the sea
A . oJt
story of the orphan girl
....... loi
APPENDIXES
Appendix 1.—Word-lists
^0-
Appendix II.—The fight between Romiwata and Surandal Lalakon 117
.
Appkndix m.—Physical measurements of Subanuns
121
m
ILLUSTRATIONS
PiAfE I. Suimnun men, Sindang^n River.
If. Subanun men, Sindangan River.
III. Bubanim men, Sindangan River.
IV. Subanun women, Sindangan River.
V. 1, 2, and 3. Bubamm women, Sindangan River.
4. Subanun woman, Peyd River.
VI. 1 and 2. Subanun man, Sindangan Bay. '
3 and 4. Subanun man, Pey6 River.
-VII. Suimnun men, Peyfi River.
VIII. Subanun women, Peyo River.
IX. Subanun house on the Pey<^ River.
2. House of Subanun chief, Dumankilas Bay.
X. 1. Under the house of Chief Mandf, Sindangan River.
2. Hearth in Chief Mandf.s house, Sindangan River.
XI. Interior of Chief Mandfs house, Sindangan River.
XII. 1. Jars in Chief aiandf's house, Sindangan River.
2. Imported jars, probably Chinese, Peyo Rl/er.
XIII. 1. Subanun woman weaving, Peyd River.
2. Subanun blanket, Si!idangan River,
XIV. 1. Subanun mats, Sindangan Bay.
2. Subanun woman weaving a mat, Sindangan River.
XV. Typical Subanun clearing ika-hig-in), Sindangan Bay.
XVI. Subanuns planting liee, Sindangan River.
XVII. Subanun agricultural implements.
XVIII. Subanun smithy.
XIX. Subamm
baskets.
XX. Rice granaries.
XXI. 1. Trap set for catehing wild cocks, Sindangan Bay.
2. Subanun children at play^ Sindangan River.
XXII. 1. Sulwinun with sears, Peyo River.
2. Subanun chief of Dumankilas Bay.
XXIII. Subanun weapon?.
XXIV. I. Subanun spirit-house, Nueva Reus.
2. Subanun altarj, Sindangan Bay.
XXV. I and 2, Subamjin idols, Sindangan Bay.
3. Charm against e^jl spirits, Sindangan River,
XXVI. 1. Subanun huklitff or dancing platform.
SuMnuBs
2. drinkiii^ rice b«Br.
XXVII.
Sulwuttuna dancing.
XXVin. Subanuns dancing.
XXIX. Subanun quarantine in action, Sindangan Bay.
^
[71
'-^'i J Mi H.,
^ U
:,,.r^'"'i
PREFACE
The materials for The Subanuns of Sindangan Bay were gathered
for the most part during about eleven weeks in the region about the
bay, in which five were passed in the months of March and April in
1905, and six in April, May, and June of 1906. The first visit was
made in the course of a rapid survey of the Subanun field with a view
to selecting some one region for the subject of a monograph. After
visiting other districts, I selected the Sindangan Bay region and re-
turned there to pursue my investigations, but found that in the meantime
a virulent epidemic of smallpox had broken out. This epidemic, owing
to quarantine regulations enforced by the Subanuns thembelves, and to
a widespread desertion of the settlements, made the moment inopportune
for ethn^raphic work. The attempt was renewed the next year, but
it was found that the disease, which according to the natives had in
the cou^e of the past year killed a quarter of the inhabitants of several
rmcherias along the coast, was still rife, and that all travel inland was
still interdicted. Under the circumstances the best that could donn
l>e
was to spend a month and a half at one or two rancherias at or itear
the mouth of Sindangan River, where the smallpox had already passed.
Even here, conditions were adverse in that the people, worn down phys-
ically and discouraged, had not yet returned to a normal degree of
activity. Owing to these circumstances the following report is not as
full as it was intended to be. No one knows better than the writer
how far it is from exhausting the subject.
In view, however, of the great lack of information regarding the
pagan peoples of Mindanao, it seems best to publish it as it stands,
as part of a volume to be devoted to those peoples, and with the
hope of adding to the information contained in it at some future
time.
While for the sake of greater clearness and certainty the paper
treats mainly of a restricted and definite region, namely, that around
Sindangan Bay, ilie writer is led to believe by his observations in
other portions of the Subanun habitat that in spite of innumerable
small variations in details, the general picture will be found correct
for the Subanun culture area in general. Everywhere one finds the
same fundamental religious ideas, interpreted by male or female shamans;
the same scattering of population and loose' system of social control,
'
'
[9]