relatives of a murdered person are not
allowed to wed until the death is avenged.

[126] These are Maclingtong at Pandisan; Pankard at Tagauanan;
Kasicknan, Lewanan, and Malangit, in the mountains between Taguanan and
Piso.

Instances are known where the old men have conferred the title of
_bagani_ upon the son of some deceased warrior. In such a case the
recipient of the honor starts at once to fulfil the requirements of
election, for otherwise he brings disgrace to himself and family. In his
own settlement the oldest of the _bagani_ becomes supreme ruler, and if
powerful enough he may extend his influence to a considerable distance.
In a few cases on the East coast the holders of the title have so
instilled fear of themselves into the neighboring districts that they
have been able to levy blackmail, even on the Christianized natives. War
parties are led by these wearers of the red garments, and they also
enforce the laws handed down from their forefathers.

The day a warrior is elevated to this order he is in a large measure cut
away from his fellows. He no longer associates with them as equals but
eats his meals alone, unless it happens that other _bagani_ are present.

Below the _bagani_ in rank come the warriors, a class which includes
practically all the able-bodied free men; and still below them are the
slaves. Slavery was an ancient institution with this people when the
Spaniards first visited their country, and it has continued to flourish
up to the present, in all districts a little removed from the influence
of the white man. The great majority of slaves are secured by capture,
but until recent years the Moro of the coast have carried on a lucrative
slave trade with this tribe. Girls and women become members of their
master's household, but their children are treated as slaves. Captive
boys and men aid their masters in the chase and in the fields, and in
most cases it would be hard indeed for a stranger to pick servant from
master. Sometimes the people of a neighboring village ransom one of
their fellows and in such a case the freed slave may return to his old
home or he may become a free member of the community in which he has
been serving.

DWELLINGS

The insecurity of life resulting from the conditions described has
caused the people to build their homes high in the branches of trees,
often so situated on the edge of cliffs that they can be approached only
from one direction (Plates LXXIII-LXXIV).