[2] These are Maclingtong at Pandisan; Pankard at Tagauanan; Kasicknan, Lewanan, and Malangit, in the mountains between Taguanan and Piso.

Instances are known where the old men have conferred the title of bagani upon the son of some deceased warrior.  In such a case the recipient of the honor starts at once to fulfil the requirements of election, for otherwise he brings disgrace to himself and family.  In his own settlement the oldest of the bagani becomes supreme ruler, and if powerful enough he may extend his influence to a considerable distance.  In a few cases on the East coast the holders of the title have so instilled fear of themselves into the neighboring districts that they have been able to levy blackmail, even on the Christianized natives.  War parties are led by these wearers of the red garments, and they also enforce the laws handed down from their forefathers.

The day a warrior is elevated to this order he is in a large measure cut away from his fellows.  He no longer associates with them as equals but eats his meals alone, unless it happens that other bagani are present.

Below the bagani in rank come the warriors, a class which includes practically all the able-bodied free men; and still below them are the slaves.  Slavery was an ancient institution with this people when the Spaniards first visited their country, and it has continued to flourish up to the present, in all districts a little removed from the influence of the white man.  The great majority of slaves are secured by capture, but until recent years the Moro of the coast have carried on a lucrative slave trade with this tribe.  Girls and women become members of their master’s household, but their children are treated as slaves.  Captive boys and men aid their masters in the chase and in the fields, and in most cases it would be hard indeed for a stranger to pick servant from master.  Sometimes the people of a neighboring village ransom one of their fellows and in such a case the freed slave may return to his old home or he may become a free member of the community in which he has been serving.

DWELLINGS

The insecurity of life resulting from the conditions described has caused the people to build their homes high in the branches of trees, often so situated on the edge of cliffs that they can be approached only from one direction (Plates LXXIII-LXXIV).

Two sorts of dwellings are commonly seen.  Of these, the rudest rest on the limbs of trees, and conform in size and shape to the nature of the supporting branches.  Some few houses of this kind have horizontal sides and sloping roofs, but more frequently a roof which slopes directly from a central ridge pole to the edges of the platform does away with the necessity of side walls.