This tribe occupies both slopes of the mountain range which borders the
Pacific ocean, from about 9 degrees of North latitude south nearly to
Cape San Agustin. Its members are also found in considerable numbers
from the head of the Agusan drainage nearly to the town of Compostela,
and several settlements of this people are to be found along the Hijo
and Tagum rivers, while in recent years a number have established
themselves on the eastern side of Davao Gulf.
Generally speaking, this whole region is extremely mountainous and at
the same time heavily wooded. It is only when the Agusan, Hijo, and
Tagum rivers are approached that the country becomes more open. On the
Pacific coast there are few harbors, for the mountains extend down
almost to the water's edge forming high sheer cliffs. Aside from the
three rivers mentioned the water courses are, for the greater part,
small and unnavigable and a short distance back from the coast appear as
tiny rivulets at the bottom of deep cañons.
There is no organization of the tribe as a whole, since each district
has its local ruler who is subject to no other authority. These
divisions I are seldom on good terms, and are frequently in open warfare
with one another or with neighboring tribes.
Despite this lack of unity and the great area they inhabit, their
dialects are mutually intelligible, and in other respects they are so
similar that I believe we are justified in regarding them as one group
linguistically, physically, and culturally.