FIG. 12. TAMBARA OR BASKET-LIKE RECEPTACLE IN WHICH OFFERINGS ARE MADE
TO THE SPIRITS.
This is our picture of a typical home. It is not a cheery place by day,
for the lack of windows, as well as a fog of smoke from the open stove,
makes it dark and gloomy. Nevertheless, since the house offers a cool
retreat from the blazing sun, and the smoke-laden air is free from flies
and mosquitoes, it is a popular resort for all members of the family
during the hottest part of the day. The little light, which filters in
through the many cracks in the floors and walls, is sufficient to allow
the women to spin, dye, weave, and decorate their clothing, or to engage
in other activities. After dark the resinous nuts of the _bitaog_ tree,
or leaf covered resin torches are burned, and by their uncertain light
the women and men carry on their labors until far into the night.
Entrance to the dwelling is gained by means of a notched log, bamboo
pole, or by a ladder of the same material. As a protection against
strong winds many props are placed against the sides of the house, and
when large trees are available the dwellings are further secured by
being anchored to them with rattan lines.
In each settlement or district will be found one large house built on
the same general plan as the smaller dwellings, but capable of housing
several hundred people (Plate XV). This is the home of the local _datu_
or ruler. All great ceremonies are held here, and it is the place to
which all hasten when danger threatens. It is the social center of the
community, and all who desire go there at any time and remain as long as
they wish, accepting meanwhile the food and hospitality of the ruler.
A brief description of the house of Datu Tongkaling will give a good
idea of this type of structure. Except for size--the dimensions being 44
x 20 ft.--the exterior does not differ greatly from the houses already
described. A long, partially covered porch leading to the doorway is
provided with benches which are always occupied by men and boys,
loitering or engaged in the absorbing task of lousing one another. At
the far end of the room is the elevated platform, but this one is much
wider than is customary, and is intended as the sleeping place for the
warriors, or illustrious guests. As the writer and his wife were
considered, by the _datu_, as belonging to the latter class, they were
favored with this vantage spot, from which they could view and be viewed
by the whole household. Along the sides of the room are elevated
box-like enclosures in which the _datu_ and some of his wives and
daughters sleep and keep their belongings. At night the balance of the
family, including men, women, children, and dogs, occupy the floor.
Midway between the side walls and near to the elevated platform are two
decorated bamboo poles, which are raised in honor of the patron spirits
of the warriors; while in other parts of the room are baskets, hanging
altars, and other devices in which are placed offerings intended for the
spirits. In addition to the customary furnishings are hundreds of
objects testifying to the wealth of the _datu_. Clothes, boxes, dozens
of huge copper gongs, drums, ancient Chinese jars and plates, spears and
shields, beaded clothing, baskets, and last but not least--in the
estimation of the _datu_--a huge enameled advertisement of an American
brewery.
In the western part of the Bagobo district is a village known as
Bansalan. Recently its people have been induced to leave the old
settlement and build in a new location, midway between the mountains and
the sea. Here the writer found a very different type of house (Plate
XVIa). Small trees formed the uprights to which cross-beams were tied to
make the roof supports, and on these rested a final covering of _nipa_
palm. A few feet above the ground other supports were lashed and on them
strips of _palma brava_ were laid as flooring. In the few cases where
the houses were fitted with sides, strips of _nipa_ palm fastened
together with rattan were used. There seemed to be no uniform type of
dwelling, each house differing from its neighbor in number of rooms,
floor levels, or in other respects. Only one feature, the elevated
sleeping platform at one end of the house, was always found. A few miles
further inland, in the old settlement, the houses are of the type
already described in detail. The people have been practically forced to
their new location by governmental action. The new careless type of
structures seen in Bansalan probably represents, to them, temporary
structures in which they expect to remain only until a change of
governors will furnish an excuse for returning to the old location.