“We left Davao on the morning of the 27th of December and arrived at Digos in the afternoon of the same day.  An order was immediately sent out to the Bagobos of Talun to come down to Digos to meet us.

“On the morning of the 30th, the entire population of Talun—­men, women and children, to the number of almost one hundred and fifty—­arrived at Digos.  They were informed that it was reported that a human sacrifice had been made at their town and that the authorities desired to know if this was so.

“Datto[sic] Ansig replied that it was true that a sacrifice had been held as stated and that both he and his people were ready to tell all about it as to the best of their belief they had committed no crime, but only followed out a religious custom practiced by themselves and their ancestors from time immemorial.

“From the statements made by Ansig and his followers, it appears as follows: 

“That the Bagobos have several gods, ‘Bacalad,’ God of the spirits, Agpanmole[sic] Monobo[sic], God of good and his wife the goddess Dewata; Mandarangan, the God of evil (corresponding perhaps to our devil) and to whom sacrifice is made to appease his wrath which is shown by misfortune, years of drought, or evil befalling the tribe or its members, also it is at times necessary to offer him human sacrifice so that he will allow the spirits of the deceased to rest, etc.  They say that in case a Bagobo of rank or influence dies, and his widow be unable to secure another husband, it is necessary for her to offer sacrifice to appease the spirit of her departed husband in order that she may secure another.  In order that these sacrifices be not made too often, it is customary for the old men of the town to gather together once each year during a time when a collection of seven stars, three at right angle to the other four, are seen in the heavens at seven o’clock in the evening, which is said to occur once each year during the first part of the month of December.

“This collection of stars is called by the Bagobos ‘Balatic,’ and is the sign of the sacrifice, that is, if a sacrifice is to occur, it must take place during the time that the stars are in this position.

“The old men meet and decide if enough misfortune has overtaken the tribe or village during the period since the last sacrifice to render necessary another tribute to the god of evil.  It is not necessary to offer a sacrifice for each evil, but when the misfortunes amount to a considerable, a sacrifice is held to cover the entire lot.

“In this case it appears that two widows, Addy and Obby, went to Datto[sic] Ansig and requested that he arrange a sacrifice to appease the spirits of their departed husbands which were bothering them.  Ansig called a meeting of the old men at which were present besides himself Bagobos Oling, Pandaya, and Ansig, and these four decided that as they had not had a sacrifice since the great drought (about three years ago) and that since that time many evils had befallen them, it would be well to offer a sacrifice.  These four men sent out to find a slave for sacrifice, the finder becoming the chief of the sacrifice.