ary fathers stationed among the
Bagobo are found many references to human sacrifices. Since American
occupation several articles have appeared describing this custom, and
following the sacrifice held in Talun in 1907, this practice became the
subject of official communication between the Governor of the District
and his superiors. While these descriptions agree, in the main, there
are so many minor variations that it seems best to first relate the
account given to the writer by Datu Tongkaling and ten of his _magani_,
after which we shall take up some of the earlier accounts, and the
official correspondence of 1907.

Datu Tongkaling is a _magani_. He claims to have killed more than thirty
of his enemies in fair fight and to have assisted in, or to have
witnessed, an even greater number of sacrifices. Prior to his elevation
to the office of _datu_ he had aided in several of the yearly offerings.
At the time he became _datu_ he entertained all his people for seven
days and on the morning of the last day, in the presence of his
subjects, he alone sacrificed a decrepit Bila-an slave for whom he had
paid three _agongs_. Hence, probably, no man in the tribe is better
fitted to describe this event than he.

According to him, a sacrifice should be held each year following the
appearance in the sky of a constellation of seven stars known as
_Balatik_ ("pig trap").[51] The stars are placed there by the spirits
for two purposes:--first, to inform the people that it is time to prepare
for the clearing of new fields; second, to remind them that they should
offer a slave to Mandarangan, Darago, and Balakat as payment for the
good year they have enjoyed, and to secure their good will for the
coming season. A great epidemic or continued calamaties[sic] might also
be signs that the spirits were in need of another offering, and this
could take place at any time. Upon the death of an adult it becomes the
duty of the family to make a sacrifice, but, unless the deceased is of
very great importance, they may wait until the yearly sacrifice[52] when
they can purchase a share in it. The one other occasion for which this
offering is obligatory is the installation of a new _datu_ in office.
For the yearly event the ruler should provide a decrepit slave, and then
invite all those who have had death or trouble in the family and who
wish a part in the sacrifice to help bear the expense of the ceremony.
Guests gather from near and far and for two o