B'LAAN BARE FOOT.......GIL TAMANA ANDU SAFING DE BLE IN B'LAAN LANGUAGE

BAREFOOT....is the most common among Highland B'laan men and women for not wearing any foot wear, and it has been practiced by the B'laan culture in the region. Children who habitually go barefoot were found to have stronger feet, with flexibility and mobility........In the past, Highland B'laan traveling through is entirely on bare foot and is principally along the water courses, so that in going place to place

a person is continually crossing the stream. The trails, lead from the river's bank almost perpendicularly up the mountain side or to the summits of high hills, where will be found one or two houses........Walking trails, which are a very ancient and prevalent feature throughout the Highland B'laan terrain, are often used to indicate the exact position of a traditional boundary between two big communities. People from various locations often used the ancient walking trails when traveling between region. If travelers deviated from the established walking trails and items, such as agricultural produce, was found to be missing, then the travelers would likely be blamed......If travelers become very hungry on their journey, they are permitted to eat food, such as a few of corn, from the fields near walking trail. However, the traveler must not waste any of this food. If the owner of the crops is presented in the field, it is considered polite to first ask the permission of the owner before talking any of the food or crop. If the owner of the crop is not present, the travelers are expected to leave a sign or indicator, such as a stick or branch placed in the ground, which indicates the direction of the travelers home community. The owner of the crop will then be able to determined the community affiliation, origin and possibly even the specific identity of the travelers who consumed food from the field. Individuals can often be identified by their foot prints. The broken stick or branch, which points to the travelers community, acts as a form of absentee permission from the owner of the crop. Travelers who attempt to deceive the owner of the crop by pointing the marker stick in wrong direction are not only risking a death penalty, but a bad reputation after death. The custodian of the community is permitted to kill any travelers whom he may find hunting or stealing food from his field............