next went into a trance lying down and
singing the message of Tagbusau and other gods to the assemblage. The
singing was done in a small inclosed room, the singer slipping in and
out without my seeing her."

The letters of Pedro Rosell written at Caraga in 1885 contain many
references to the duties of the _ballyan_. In one account he records the
following song which he says is sung by the priestesses when they invoke
their gods Mansilatan and Badla.[120]

[120] BLAIR and ROBERTSON, Vol. XLIII, pp. 217-21, and Vol. XII, p. 270.

"Miminsad, miminsad si Mansilatan

Opod si Badla nga magadayao nang dumia

Bailan, managunsayao,

Bailan, managunliguit."

This means:

"Mansilatan has come down, has come down.

Later (will come) Badla, who will preserve the earth.

Bailanas, dance; bailanas, turn ye round about."

This Rosell takes as "a confirmation of the most transcendental
questions of our true religion," for in Mansilatan he finds the
principal god and father of Balda, "who descended from the heavens where
he dwells, in order to create the world. Afterwards his only son Badla
came down also to preserve and protect the world--that is men and
things--against the power and trickery of the evil spirits Pudaugnon and
Malimbung." The writer made persistent inquiry among the Mandaya to the
south of Caraga, but could not find a trace of a belief in any one of
the four spirits named; neither are these spirits mentioned in the notes
of Governor Bolton, nor in the excellent description of the people about
Cateel, furnished by such a careful observer as Mr. Maxey. It seems that
this account, together with the song and its translation, must have been
gathered from other than Mandayan sources. Long before 1885 the town of
Caraga had become one of the strongholds of the church on the east coast
of Mindanao, and Christianized settlers from all the southern islands
had come to the vicinity.[121] It is probable that Rosell's information
was secured from Christianized or Moro emigrants, and the first spirits
named refer to Badhala--Bathala, or Batala--"the all powerful," and Dian
Mansalanta--"the patron of lovers and generation."[122]

[121] They are often referred to as _Caragas_ in the early writings.

[122] Further information regarding these spirits will be found in the
Relations of Loarca, 1582 (BLAIR and ROBERTSON, Vol. V, p. 171), and the
Relation of Juan de Plasencia, 1589 (_ibid_, Vol. VII, pp. 189-96, Vol.
XII, p. 2