The Newtown bee., 1900-05-11
TEN PAGES.
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
A. F. Clarke at Manila.


 for copies of The Manila Freedom and The American, papers published at Ma nila ia the Philippines. The Freedom is & l2.page paper and has 8 large adVer- tsins patronage. The Freedom says it Is an American paper advocating Great CT America" In the Freedom ia an in- teresting article on the Igorotte tribes in the Philippines, which were referred to by Rev MT Sawyer in his lecture last win ter. The following Is from the article l in question:
 There are many strange customs among the tribes of the North that have 1 been source of much interest to Ameri- cans who have passed through the prov inces recently occupied by American troops. The Igorottes, particularly, have, on account of their isolated and wild surroundings, engaged :more attention ! than others.
 l Situated as they have been during the days of Spanish occupation on the bor- ders of civilization, they have continued distinct people, reservinR all their original customs without any appearance of the effects of the civilization that was shut off from them by the mountains, and of which they had an occasional glimpse as the people went out to the coast towns to trade. They never brought back any | thing but what they went after, and l their impression of the customs of the white man must not have been favorable, FnP thnu hpua Ao carry any of their methods or customs of living back with them.
 Like the American tramp they despise cleanliness in their persons. If they should take bath 1t is believed that they would suffer severely from losing the coating of accumulated filth that must aid in keeping their bodies warm. Yet with all their dirt, they are kind and hospitable people, and the traveller who thrusts himself upon their hospitality finds that they will sacrifice much that the stranger within their gates may be made comfortable.
 Their religion is similar to that of Pagan nations. Some of the tribes set up the image of pig and worship it, and this same animal that they hold in high esteem is found In every home and occupies prominent place by the fire side. Other tribes set up other animals as their deisies but the pig seems to be the greatest fsvorite.
 When the female children are born they are at once .betrothed to some male child, and when they become of marriage able age the youth forthwith buys 8 pig, presents it to the presidente of the barrie and claims his bride. The result is that there are very few marriages arranged at marrlageable age. The only ones free to make contract are the females that are left oyer after supplying all of the 1 male infants and the widows of deceased IRorottes. In the latter cases pig will set everything right with the presidente and the wedding Is solemnized by big l pow-wow. The pig is killed and roasted by the presidente, and all the neighbors in the barrie bring pigs and sometimes dogs ! to make the feast grand success. The feast. and. .dancinglwillc continue sometimes for weeks, or until all the pigs and dogs ! in the neighborhood are exhausted. The | wife will not leave the bsrrio at which | she was born, no matter where her lord and master may go. The people, how ever, are very vlrtuous and the, honor of the home has been found respected throughout the Igorotte country. When an Igorotte dies it is the signal for big time. If the person is an in- dividual of any power they have 8 big time keeping the devil away from the corpse. They have great faith in the efficiency of heat and smoke for that purpose. They take the body and scald 1t so that the hair all falls off the body. Then they stand it Aup in corner and keep small fire beneath it. The smoke from the smudge envelops the corpse and this is considered the most effective man. ner of keeping the evil one away. In the meantime festivities are kept up day and night for three days. A rice wine is free- ly drank, and religious dance in which two flat sticks are used form part of the program to keep the evil spirits away from the departed one. When the time has expired the natives believe tsat they can safely deposit the body under ground and it Is done with. great cere- mOny.
 Little is known about the wild noun tain tribes. They are called Tusilsnes or robbers by the peaceful natives in the valleys, and are held by them in mortal terror. The natives tell fearful stories of their raids sand depredstions in the peaceful valleys. The natives claim that they are cannibals or head-hunters and when they slay one of their victims they cut off the head and carry it off with them. Some say that they carry whole bodies off and cook and eat them in the mountains. One instance is quoted of a soldier being captured by them, and when his body was recovered the head men had just prepared 1t for the pot There may be some truth in the stories, for the natives turn pale at the word Tusilanes, but parties have been well treated h TusiIane- villages in the noun tains, and had no idea that they were en- Ijoying the hospitality of those terrible cannibsls. The natives of the village were astounded to see them come out Il alive.
 The Igrottes have taken wonderful, liking to the Americans, and are invalua. ble to parties passing through the coun try. Fortunately the class of men wht have visited their territory have .not abused their hospitable disposition, ane those industrious people willprove val . uable element in opening up and develop.