"Bagobo Myths," Laura Watson Benedict, JAFL 26 : 13-63.

The Kingfisher and the Malaki The Woman and the Squirrel The Cat Why the Bagobo Likes the Cat How the Lizards got their Markings The Monkey and the Tortoise The Crow and the Golden Trees An Ata Story Alelu'k and Alebu'tud PART I Philippine Folk-Tales.

Indianapolis, Ind. PART VI Bagobo Myths By Laura Watson Benedict The following stories were obtained from the Bagobo people, one of the groups of pagan Malays in southeastern Mindanao, Philippine Islands.

Foremost in significance for the cultural tradition of the people is the ulit, a long, romantic tale relating in highly picturesque language the adventures of the mythical Bagobo, who lived somewhere back in the hazy past, before existing conditions were established.

When the Bagobo are eating cocoanut, they let the cat jump up and have some too, because her head once turned into a cocoanut.

When the cat hears the Bagobo scraping cocoanut in the kitchen, she runs quickly to get some to eat.

Why the Bagobo Likes the Cat An old man was fishing in the brook; but the water kept getting muddy, and he did not know what was the matter.

On this account the Bagobo kills the crow so that he may get his liver for "medicine."

Among the Bagobo the name "diwata" is used rather as a collective than as a specific term, and refers to the gods in general, or to any one of them.

[30] Tuglay, the "old man" of Bagobo myth, and Tuglibung, the "old woman," were the Mona, who lived on the earth before time began.

Tradition says that they were acquainted with only the rudest of Bagobo arts and industries; that they were very poor, and dressed themselves in the soft sheath torn from the cocoanut-trees.

With ready ease the Bagobo incorporates elements that have come from Catholic sources, yet without breaking the thread of his narrative.

Such auspicious white spots are referred to in the text of a Bagobo song (in manuscript), in which the Divine Man who lives at the source of the streams is said to have the pamoti on his body.

It is not ordinarily associated in the mind of the Bagobo with any idea of retribution.

The traditional concept of Buso among the Bagobo has essentially the same content as that of Asuang with Visayan peoples.

Visayan word for rice growing in the field; Bagobo, 'ume.

A large carrying-bag worn by Bagobo men on the back, by means of straps over the shoulders.

When a Bagobo makes an expedition over the mountains to attend a fiesta, he wears his old clothes, and carries his elaborately ornamented garments in the bag on his back.

[101] A bead necklace, the most highly valued of all Bagobo ornaments.

The necklace is thought to be of Moro manufacture, and is valued by the Bagobo at from one to four agongs.

[103] A trial-marriage before the Bagobo ceremony is not uncommon.

" [105] Possibly a form of kambin ("goat"); diluk ("little"); i.e., "little goat," a name that would be selected readily by a Bagobo for a fleet horse.

The Bagobo name is kasila.

[120] The S'iring are said to appear in the likeness of some near relative of the wanderer in the forest (s-, prefix widely used by mountain Bagobo before an initial vowel of a proper name; iring, "like" or "similar to").

The family altar seen in many Bagobo houses.