Several attempts were also made to colonize the Mandaya near the mouths of the Tagum and Hijo rivers, but the restlessness of the natives or the hostility of the Moro was always sufficient to cause the early break up of the new settlements.

The last great influence on this tribe has come through American planters who have prevailed upon the more venturesome members to come down to the coast plantations and there adopt the life of the Christianized natives.  Many of these adventurers have returned to their mountain homes, carrying with them new ideas and artifacts and, in some cases, wives from other tribes.  With all these influences at work there has been considerable modification of the life in many districts, particularly along the Pacific coast.  This description will attempt to give the old life of the tribe as it still exists in the more isolated districts, or as it was related by older people of the coast settlements.

MYTHOLOGY AND RELIGION.

In order to enter into a full understanding of the social, economic, and aesthetic life we must have some knowledge of the mythology and religious beliefs, for these pervade every activity.

Several stories accounting for natural phenomena and the origin of the tribe were heard.  One of these relates that the sun and moon were married and lived happily together until many children had been born to them.  At last they quarreled and the moon ran away from her husband who has since been pursuing her through the heavens.  After the separation of their parents the children died, and the moon gathering up their bodies cut them into small pieces and threw them into space.  Those fragments which fell into water became fish, those which fell on land were converted into snakes and animals, while “those which fell upward” remained in the sky as stars.

A somewhat different version of this tale agrees that the quarrel and subsequent chase occurred, but denies that the children died and were cut up.  It states that it is true that the offspring were animals, but they were so from the time of their birth.  One of these children is a giant crab named tambanokaua who lives in the sea.  When he moves about he causes the tides and high waves; when he opens his eyes lightning appears.  For some unknown reason this animal frequently seeks to devour his mother, the moon, and when he nearly succeeds an eclipse occurs.  At such a time the people shout, beat on gongs, and in other ways try to frighten the monster so that he can not accomplish his purpose.[1] The phases of the moon are caused by her putting on or taking off her garments.  When the moon is full she is thought to be entirely naked.

[1] The writer found almost identical beliefs and practices among the Batak and Tagbanua of Palawan.

According to this tale the stars had quite a different origin than that just related, “In the beginning of things there was only one great star, who was like a man in appearance.  He sought to usurp the place of of the sun and the result was a conflict in which the latter was victorious.  He cut his rival into small bits and scattered him over the whole sky as a woman sows rice.”