History of Mindanao, Part XXI: Secretary Edward Bowditch Jr., Moro Province, 1914

This entry is a verbatim rendering of an entry about Secretary Edward Bowditch Jr., who served in Moro Province on Mindanao and even served a short time as its Acting Governor after Black Jack Pershing was re-deployed. At the time Mindanao had only three provinces, with Moro the youngest of the three, created in 1903:

1) Moro, with five districts:

A) Cotabato- including the modern provinces of North Cotabato (most), South Cotabato, Sarangani, and Maguindanao

B) Zamboanga- including the modern provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and Basilan

C) Jolo- including the modern province of Sulu and part of Tawi Tawi, with its modern capital, Bongao Island, serving as its administrative centre

D) Davao- including the modern provinces of Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Compostela Valley (ComVal)

E) Lanao- including the modern province of Lanao del Sur and part of Lanao del Norte including Iligan City


2) Misamis

3) Surigao

It is important to note that the Provinces of Misamis and Surigao comprised the rest of Mainland Mindanao, roughly 70% of the Mainland and that except for a couple of tiny fishing villages at the mouth of the Agus River there were absolutely NO Muslims. This is important because of Filipino Muslim claims that "90 percent of Mindanao was Muslim when Americans arrived." Moreover, within Moro Province, Muslims were outnumbered by Lumad by a ratio of nearly four to one, and almost matched in population by Christians and that isn't including the expat colonies that were numerous enough to control 83 out of 100 hundred hectare plantations by 1910.

The following comes from the 1916 Edition of the Harvard Alumni Review (pp398-400), concerning alumnus Edward Bowditch Jr., a graduate of the Class of 1903, or, in Filipino speak, "Batch of 03." Mr.Bowditch served as the Secretary of Moro Province under Governor Pershing, and when his superior was re-deployed Stateside he became Acting Governor. Almost immediately after this article appeared Bowditch was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and given a posh position as the Aide de Camp to the Commander and Chief of the American Expeditionary Force in WWI. Sadly, he then was decorated with the Medal of Valour simply for being a good assistant. In any event, the entry concens his donation of a considerable collection of mostly Bagobo Tribal artifacts. It seems that the Editor who composed this piece got his hands on Fay Cooper-Cole's "The Wild Tribes of Davao District" (see my entries "Mindanao History, Part III: The Bagobo Lumad" parts 1, 2, and 3), because his second paragraph is plagiarised from Cole's entry on the Bagobo. Still, although very short it offers some great points about Bagobo cultural affectations, things I personally haven't seen discussed elsewhere and so I found it worthy of posting.
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The Peabody Museum has recently eceived as a gift from Edward Bowditch Jr.,'03, a valuable collection of ethnological material from the Bagobo, Ata, and Moro Tribes of Mindanao, and from the Sulu Region of the Southern Philippines. This was obtained by him in the Summer and Autumn of 1913 and Spring of 1914, while Secretary of the Moro Province and, for a time, the Acting Govrnor. The collection includes about 400 specimins, the greater part of which came from the Bagobo, the picturesque people inhabiting the nothwest portion of Davao Province, in the island of Mindanao. A genral idea of the appearance of the Bagobo may be had from the accompanying illustration.

No wild tribe of the Philippines gives more attention to dress. The native cloth is made from abaca, a kind of hemp, which is prepared in the usual way, and the seperate fibrs tied in a continuous thread and wound on a reel. The designs of some cloth, especially that used for women's skirts, are made in an interesting way.

The wool threads are of a single color, usually a dark brown or red. The figures are produced by the warp as follows: the light yellow strands is first seperated into bunches of ten to sixteen threads each. These are then wrapped with fibre at intervals along their entire length, the bound portions covering spaces of one-half to three-fourths of an inch. The warp is now ready for dying. The dark dye takes effect only on the unwrapped portions of the threads, and does not penetrate deep enough to color the threads beneath the wrappings. After dyeing, the wrappings are removed and the designs appear as a series of irregular spots which are arranged to form the pattern in the finished cloth.

There are several costumes in the collection, some of which show designs produced by the above process. Much of the clothing is profusely ornamented with glass beads and spangles. Beaded necklaces, belts, and ear pendants are worn generally. Some of the older coats are nearly covered with discs of less than one-fourth inch in diameter, laboriously made from fresh water shells. The trinket baskets of the women, and the mens' carrying bags are also profusely beaded in very pleasing patterns. A great variety of anklets, armlets, bracelets, and decorated combs are worn, and some of the girdles are elaborately embroidered.

In the native villages no men stand in higher estimation of their fellows than do the casters of brass and copper. Most of the articles are made by the ancient wax process, which was known to many primitive peoples the world over. The objects produced are principally betel nut boxes, armlets, leglets, and small bells used for decorating knife sheaths and other articles. The collection has several good examples of this work.

Probaly the most important industry of this people is the raising, gathering, and care of rice, for upon this cereal they depend for the greater part of the food supply. The planting implement consists of a staff with a metal blade. On the upper end of the staff is a bamboo clapper, decorated with feathers. When in use, this clapper keeps up an incessant noise. It is said that this is intended to please the guardian spirit of the field. In the gathering, storage, and sorting of rice, baskets of many forms and sizes are used, ranging from the tall, beautifully woven pack baskets to the flat trays for winnowing and serving rice. The baskets for storing rice are furnished with covers, and made proof against damp wiyh wax. The collection contains over 80 baskets, including most of the varieties used.

The principal weapons of the Bagobo are spears and large knives. The sheaths of the latter are profusely decorated with beads, and hung with bead pendants and brass bells of native workmanship. The shields are elaborate affairs of thin wood reinforced by cross bars. Intricate esigns are carved upon their fronts, and the edges are often ornamented with a fringe of hair. The spears are well made and have iron points. They are used in fighting, and for hunting deer and wild pig.

There are several snares in the collection for catching wild chickens. These consist of a number of running nooses attached at intervals to a long pleated rattan cord. A tame rooster is fastened in the jungle and the snare is arranged around him. The crowing of the cock soon attracts the wild birds, which, coming to fight, are almost sure to become entangled in one of the nooses. For storage and transportation, these snares are made into compact rolls, which together with pegs for securing them, are neatly packed in baskets made especially for the purpose.

The musical instruments in the collection consist of native wooden guitars, curious harp-like instruments of bamboo, bamboo flutes, and the well known bamboo jews-harp which is found throughout this section.

Mr.Bowditch's gift is a timely one, for already the arts of this people are becoming modified by contact with Europeans, and it will soon be impossible to obtain the finer examples of native work.

History of Mindanao, Part III: The Bagobo Lumad, Circa 1910, Part 2

A continuation of Chapter I, "The Wild Tribes of Davao District"by the American anthropologist Fay Cooper-Cole, best known as a Defense Witness in the "Scopes Monkey Man Trial" that pitted Evolution versus Creationism, a milestone in American jurisprudence and culture in general.

Chapter I: The Bagobo (continued):

The genealogy of the Bagobo rulers is traced back through ten generations. The first ruler of whom there is record was Salingolop, during whose reign it seems, the Spaniards first came to the Philippines. According to the tale "Salingolop was a man of great and prodigious force, and as tall as the Lauan, which is the tallest tree in these forests. He had three sons called Bato, Sipongos, and Calisquisan, and a daughter named Panugutan. When the Spaniards arrived at Manila, and found that there existed a man so tall and powerful, they sent a battalion of soldiers. They disembarked on the shore of Bimigao near Daron, and ascended the mountain where Salingolop lived. He was not found, because at the time he was on the other side of the mountain hunting wild boar, and the soldiers returned to the shore, taking Panugutan as a hostage. Salingolop, having found out what had happened descended the mountain alone to fight the soldiers which were there. These fired on him, but in vain, because the balls could make no impression. On seeing this, they dropped their rifles and with bars of iron they struck him on the legs, trying to overthrow him. As he fell on the side towards the sea, the noise of the waves, it is said, reached to the Cape San Agustin. They cut off his head and, as he lay dead, they cut off his legs that he might not arise again. The Spaniards returned to Manila, taking with them Panugutan; she married in Manila a Spaniard, by whom she had two children, who later returned to these parts and were well received, being considered not only as friends but as brothers of the Bagobo. (THE PRECEDING FROM THE WRITINGS OF THE JESUIT MISSIONARY FR.JUAN DOYLE)

Salingolop was succeeded by his son Bato who, in turn, was followed by Boas, Basian, Lumbay, Banga, Maliadi,and Taopan. Until we come to this last mentioned ruler we learn little more of importance, but at the beginning of his rule, we learn that the Bagobo had become a powerful people. Under his leadership they made frequent forays into neighboring districts and returned with many slaves and rich loot. The datu* was noted as a brave warrior, but in addition to this he was a wise and just ruler greatly beloved by all his people. When he died more than one thousand of his subjects attended the funeral which lasted ten days. On the last day the house was decked, inside and out, with red and yellow flowers; many valuable gifts were placed beside the corpse, and the place was then abandoned. (*THE AUTHOR NEN IN GENERAL USE WAS THE CORRUPTED MALAY"DATU,"AN AFFECTATION OF THE NEIGHBORING ISLAMICISED TRIBES.THE TRADITIONAL BAGOBO TERMS ARE"LAGAIMODA"AND"MATANEM")

He was succeeded by his son Pangilan,whose administration,like that of his father,was firm and just.Upon his death he bequeathed the leadership of a united people to his son Manib.The new datu did not prove to be a great warrior and his decisions in matters of dispute were not always just,so that bad blood arose between the people of Cibolan and Talun. (THE 2 MAIN BAGOBO POPULATION CENTRES INTO THE EARLY AMERICAN COLONIAL ERA IN DAVAO DISTRICT) He was unable to quell the disturbances,and finally open warfare broke out, petty chiefs of other districts throwing off his control and ruling as datu. This was the condition which confronted the present ruler, Tongkaling, when he found himself ruler of Cibolan.

The claims of leadership over all the Bagobo had never been relinquished,but the actual power of the datu outside his own district amounted to little.Tongkaling soon established his right to the name of a great warrior, and his people so prospered under his rule that upon the advent of the Americans he was very much the most powerful among the several chiefs. Under the administration of Governor Bolton, Tongkaling was officialy recognised as head of the Bagobo and with this added prestige,he has finally suceeded in gaining recognition from all the chiefs except those about Santa Cruz, but his actual control over them is still very slight. He has been a consistent friend of the Americans, but has jealousy guarded his people against outside influences,so that they are much less affected then those of other districts.For this reason we shall, in this paper, use Cibolan as a type settlement, but where radical differences occur in other districts they will be noted.

Physical Type: (I WILL OMIT THE HIGHLY ACADEMIC PORTIONS RELATING TO CEPHALIC INDICES,CRANIUM MEASUREMENTS AND THE LIKE) The maximum height of the males was found to be 164.8 cm.; minimum 149.9 cm.; with an average of 158.6 cm. For the women the maximum was 152.8 cm.; minimum 141 cm.; average 147.3 cm.

The face is long, moderately broad, and the zygomatic arches are seldom prominent. The forehead is high and full with supra-orbital ridge slightly developed. The crown and back of the head are rather strongly arched. The people are seldom prognathous, yet individuals are met with who are markedly so.

The lips are full and bowed; the chin is round and well formed. The root of the nose is depressed; the ridge broad and generally inclined to be concave,although straight noses are not uncommon.The nasal wings are moderately broad and arched or swelled. The eye slits are oblique and moderately open, showing dark or brown-black eyes. The hair is brown-black and generally slightly wavy or loosely curled, while in some cases it is found curled in locks. Women comb their hair straight back and plaster it with coconut oil, but even this does not prevent stray locks from creeping out. Both face and body hairs are scanty and are generally removed, yet occasionally a man is seem who has cultivated a few hairs into the semblance of a beard.

The Bagobo,while well nourished, are inclined to be of slight build,with very narrow waists. In color they are a light reddish brown with a slight olive tinge which is more pronounced in the women than in the men.

In a brief summary, we can say that they are a short, slightly built, metasi-cephalic people, with wavy hair, long faces,and broad, full noses and lips. Individuals are met with who exhibit many of the physical characteristics of the Negrito; while still others, both in color and facial lines, are comparable to the Chinese.

Dress-Personal Adornment: No wild tribe in the islands gives more attention to dress than does the Bagobo. By an intricate process hemp us colored and woven into excellent garments, which, in turn, are decorated with embroidery, applique,or designs in shell discs and beads. The men wear their hair long and after twisting it around the head hold it in place with kerchiefs, the edges of which are decorated with beads and tassels.

A close fitting undershirt is often worn, and above this is an elaborately beaded or embroidered coat which generally opens in front. The hemp cloth trousers scarcely reach to the knee,and the bottom of each leg is decorated with a beaded or embroidered band.Two belts are worn,one to hold the trousers,the other to support the fighting or working knives which each man carries. In lieu of pockets he has on his back an elaborately beaded hemp cloth bag bordered with tassels and bells of native casting. Highly prized shell bracelets, worn as cuffs by some men,are made of a large, conical sea-shells,the base and interior spirals of which have been cut away. Necklaces made of rattan strips decorated or overlaid with alternating layers of fern and orchid cuticle are frequently seen, while many strands of beads and carved seeds surround the necks of both men and women. Both sexes also wear, above the calf of the leg, plaited or beaded leglets to some of which magical properties are ascribed.

The woman wears a jacket which is close fitting about the neck and reaches to the skirt, so that no portion of the upper part of the body is exposed. The cloth now used in this garment is generally secured in trade, and in recent years decoration in applique has begun to succeed the excellent embroidery seen on older garments. Frequently the two types of decoration are seen on the same jacket, and to these are added complicated designs in shell or metal disks, or beads.The narrow tube skirt is of hemp cloth and is made like a sack with both ends open. At the waist it is held in place by means of a cloth or beaded belt.

In addition to the many strands of beads which encircle the neck and fall over the chest, a broad bead band is often worn over one shoulder, passing under the opposite arm near the waist. Scarfs of colored cloth are also worn in this manner when the ladies are on dress parade. Leglets and brass anklets, made like tubes so as to enclose metal balls or with bells and rattles attached, are commonly worn. The women are fond of loading their arms with ornaments of shell or brass and one forearm is covered with separate rings of incised brass wire which increase in size from the center towards the ends, forming an ornament in the shape of an hour-glass. Their hair is generally cut so as to leave a barrow band in the front; this is brushed back, but often falls forward on the face or in front of the ears. Back of this the hair is kept well oiled and is combed straight to the back of the head, where it is tied in a knot. Into this knot is pushed a wooden comb decorated with incised lines filled with lime, or inlaid with beads. On festive occasions more elaborate combs, with plumes or other decorations attached, are worn. Aside from these ornaments the head is uncovered.

Men and women are seen who have their eyebrows shaved to thin lines. This is a matter of individual taste and is done only for beauty.

Neither sex makes use of tattooing, nor do they mutilate their lips or their nose, but what they lack in these respects they make up for in ear ornaments.

When a child is very young a small hole is pierced in the ear lobes, and into this opening a piece of twisted banana or hemp leaf is placed. This leaf acts as a spring, continually enlarging the opening until the ear plugs can be inserted. Another method, sometimes employed, is to fill the opening with small round sticks adding more from time to time, until the desired result is obtained.The plugs worn by the women are of wood,the fronts of which are connected by strands of beads passing under the chin. Large wooden ornaments are also worn by the men, but more prized are large ivory ear plugs made like enormous collar buttons. These are very rare, since the ivory for their manufacture must be secured from Borneo,and by the time it has passed through the hands of many traders it has assumed a value which limits the possession of articles made from it to a very few wealthy men. A further method of ear adornment, frequently seen among the women, consists of beads sewed into a number of holes which have been pierced through the helices of the ears.

Both men and women file and blacken the teeth. When a boy or girl has reached the age of puberty, it is time that this beautifying should be done. There is, however, no prohibition to having it performed earlier if desired. The candidate places his head against the operator and grips a stick of wood between his teeth while each tooth is filed so as to leave only the stump, or is cut or broken to a point. When this has been successfully accomplished, what is left of the teeth is blackened.

The color is obtained in two ways. The more common method is to place a piece of metal on one end of a bamboo tube, the other extremity of which rests on glowing coals. The smoke from the charring bamboo is conducted through the tube to the cold metal on which it leaves a deposit or "sweat." This deposit is rubbed on the teeth, at intervals, for several days until they become a shiny black. A second method is to use a powder known as tapEl [sic] which is secured from the lamod tree.The writer did not see this tree but, from the description given of it, believes it to be the tamarindus. The powder is put on leaves and is chewed. During the period of treatment the patient is under certain restrictions. He may neither drink water,cook or eat anything sour, nor may he attend a funeral. Should he do so his teeth will have a poor color or be "sick." When the teeth have been properly beautified the young man or woman is considered ready to enter society.

Boys run about quite nude until they are three or four years of age.Until about the same age the girls' sole garment is a little public shield, cut from a coconut shell and decorated with incised lines filled with lime. Not infrequently bells are attached to the sides of this "garment." When children do begin to wear clothing their dress differs in no respects from that of their elders.
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At a later date I will continue with Cole's entry on the Bagobo.When I do it will be an entry entilted,"History of Mindanao,Part III:The Bagobo Lumad, Circa 1910, Part 3."