The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 5 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 289 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 5 of 55.

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 5 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 289 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 5 of 55.

Larao of the dead—­that is, mourning.  One of the observances which is carried out with most rigor is that called larao.  This rule requires that when a chief dies all must mourn him, and must observe the following restrictions:  No one shall quarrel with any other during the time of mourning, and especially at the time of the burial.  Spears must be carried point downward, and daggers be carried in the belt with hilt reversed.  No gala or colored dress shall be worn during that time.  There must be no singing on board a barangay when returning to the village, but strict silence is maintained.  They make an enclosure around the house of the dead man; and if anyone, great or small, passes by and transgresses this bound, he shall be punished.  In order that all men may know of a chief’s death and no one feign ignorance, one of the timaguas who is held in honor goes through the village and makes announcement of the mourning.  He who transgresses the law must pay the penalty, without fail.  If he who does this wrong be a slave—­one of those who serve without the dwelling—­and has not the means to pay, his owner pays for him; but the latter takes the slave to his own house, that he may serve him, and makes him an ayoey.  They say that these rules were left to them by Lubluban and Panas.  To some, especially to the religious, it has seemed as if they were too rigorous for these people; but they were general among chiefs, timaguas, and slaves.

Wars.  The first man who waged war, according to their story, was Panas, the son of that Anoranor, who was grandson of the first human [parents:  crossed out in MS.] beings.  He declared war against Mangaran, on account of an inheritance; and from that time date the first wars, because the people were divided into two factions, and hostility was handed down from father to son.  They say that Panas was the first man to use weapons in fighting.

Just wars.  There are three cases in which these natives regard war as just.  The first is when an Indian goes to another village and is there put to death without cause; the second, when their wives are stolen from them; and the third is when they go in friendly manner to trade at any village, and there, under the appearance of friendship, are wronged or maltreated.

Laws.  They say that the laws by which they have thus far been governed were left to them by Lubluban, the woman whom we have already mentioned.  Of these laws only the chiefs are defenders and executors There are no judges, although there are mediators who go from one party to another to bring about a reconciliation.

Chapter Ninth

Which treats of slavery in the Filipinas Islands

Copyrights
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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 5 of 55 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.