About the Gulf of Davao, in the southeastern part of this island, are a number of small tribes, each differing somewhat from the other in customs and beliefs.  Of these the most influential are the Bagobo who dwell on the lower slopes of Mt.  Apo, the highest peak in the Philippines.  They are very industrious, forging excellent knives, casting fine articles in brass, and weaving beautiful hemp cloth which they make into elaborate garments decorated with beads and shell disks.

The men are great warriors, each gaining distinction among his people according to the number of human lives he has taken.  A number of them dress in dark red suits and peculiar headbands which they are permitted to wear only after they have taken six lives.  Notwithstanding their bravery in battle, these people fear and have great respect for the numerous spirits who rule over their lives.

From a great fissure in the side of Mt.  Apo, clouds of sulphur fumes are constantly rising, and it is believed to be in this fissure that Mandarangan and his wife Darago live—­evil beings who look after the fortunes of the warriors.  These spirits are feared and great care is taken to appease them with offerings, while once a year a human sacrifice is made to them.

The following tales show something of the beliefs of these and the neighboring tribes in Mindanao.

How the Moon and the Stars Came to Be

Bukidnon (Mindanao)

One day in the times when the sky was close to the ground a spinster went out to pound rice. [113] Before she began her work, she took off the beads from around her neck and the comb from her hair, and hung them on the sky, which at that time looked like coral rock.

Then she began working, and each time that she raised her pestle into the air it struck the sky.  For some time she pounded the rice, and then she raised the pestle so high that it struck the sky very hard.

Immediately the sky began to rise, [114] and it went up so far that she lost her ornaments.  Never did they come down, for the comb became the moon and the beads are the stars that are scattered about.

The Flood Story

Bukidnon (Mindanao)

A long time ago there was a very big crab [115] which crawled into the sea.  And when he went in he crowded the water out so that it ran all over the earth and covered all the land.

Now about one moon before this happened, a wise man had told the people that they must build a large raft. [116] They did as he commanded and cut many large trees, until they had enough to make three layers.  These they bound tightly together, and when it was done they fastened the raft with a long rattan cord to a big pole in the earth.

Soon after this the floods came.  White water poured out of the hills, and the sea rose and covered even the highest mountains.  The people and animals on the raft were safe, but all the others drowned.