Mutya or Batu (Belly Rock)

Before 1945
(Date collected 1939-1945)

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

2023.28.3

Mangyan

Material Stone, Process Polished

Diameter: max 40 mm, Height: max 38 mm

Maker Unknown Maker
Field collector Edward Shearman Ross
PRM source Sandra Miller Ross
PRM source Edward Shearman Ross

Donated: 12/09/2021

Edward Shearman Ross PhD was a Commanding Officer and entomologist of an Army Malaria Survey Unit on Mindoro during World War II. He made frequent trips into the mountains and jungle to collect mosquitos, Embioptera and other insects, and make tropical disease surveys. He befriended indigenous Mangyan hunter-gatherer families of Indonesian descent, trading rice, salt, and red cloth, and receiving bows and arrows, baskets, pink bananas, small ornaments, and these Belly Rocks. Belly Rocks are heavy, shiny, round, black stones called mutya. Found swirling in rock holes at the base of waterfalls and in rapids, they must be "caught alive". It takes great skill to catch these stones while they are whirling. The successful person may practice the art of healing, blowing over them through a clenched fist. It is believed a spirit lives in the stones and the person that possesses a stone has the power of that spirit literally in their hands. They are referred to as Belly Rocks because of the protrusion which looks like a belly button. Lucky owners wear their Belly Rocks in a rattan belt around their waist. These particular rocks were likely collected about 100 years ago. Information provided by the donors, Drs Edward and Sandra Ross.

Not on display

"Mangyan Memories" in Pacific Discovery: California Academy of Sciences, Volume 21, Number 5.. Edward Shearman Ross, Main author

1968. Page: 181. Page illustrated:. Catalogue number: Notes:

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