The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-04-16
The Wild Filipino Tribes.

Verne Il. Miller, writing from Santa
Cruz, locus Sur. H. L.. 10 the Newark
IN. JD Sunday Cali. says:
IL is estimated that there are from a
million 10 "a million ana half OF pagan
ana Mohommedan tribes Ia the innlp-
pines. They belong 90 no single race. Dut
To- no less than three or four races and
10 various mixtures thereof. rhe country
in which they uwell Is largely unknown.
The mountains OF Northern Luzon, the
mountains OF Mindoro. faluan and Min
plored, but have hardly been penetrated
10y white men.
1t is or ths people inhabiting the cordil-
leras of Northern Luzon that j am 10
write. The Igorrotes are the descendants
probably of the Malayans, peoples of low
culture practicing head hunting and can
nibalism. and on the same plane of cul-
ture as the Dyaks, of BornUo, and other
wild tribes of the Interior OF the Sunda
islands. known as the "Orang Benua.
they live among the mountains sun prae-
ers before them did They are "A great
trading people. coming down into the
coast towns To sell their hogs, vegetables
and products. Many OF their customs
show ther superstitions and lack OF cul-
ture. They are Of course non-Chrtstians,
worshipinng the sun, moon, pig, crow and
dove. These enter into all their cere-
monies, weddings, deaths and all sorts
of feasts
When man wishes TO get married he
goes and picks out a wife 10 his taste
lie then gives Feast called a "l<anyow."
He calls all the people OF the village, his
friends and relatives from other villages
to attend this grand celebration. There
is plenty of food, rice. dog-meat. and
above ali, and most important. plenty of
a kind of liquor made from the fermented
speed speedy and de- enjoyable % paT parunk" :" Attending %
the feasting ana drinking there is dane
ing. There are two kinds, one In wldch
the men engage. which is an imitation OF
the crow. They hop around first on one
foot and then on the other, at the same
time swinging the body violently back
and forth and giving forth the cav cav"
Of the crow. The man dancing has
blanket thrown upon his shoulder and
continues until IL falls of. This some
times continues for hours at time. The
other dance is one in which the women
only can take part. 1t is In imitation OF
the dove. They give the dainty hopping
motion and at the same time stick their
hands out I'm front of them and COO COO"
softly. Only those who are considered
good enough are allowed TO enter. the
dances and il Is considered mark OF
favor to be picked out to dance. The
motion is very peculiar and can only be
learned by long practice. The feast con-
tinues as long as the supply OF food and
liquor lasts, sometimes two or three days,
At the end OF life they have another
feast of 'kanyow." When person dies
the people ali leave their work and begih
TO feast No matter what they are doing.
IL they are working In a mine digging out
gold. they leave IT 10 go to the feast.
this season If during the progress 20
the grave "a crow flies between the body
and the grave they think Ii is an evil
sign and go back and have the feast over
Is placed In a very fine carved box made
from the splendid wood so plentiful I'm
their The oy Is dug out stdre OF
Into this the box is showed together with
others.
Their principle article OF food is dog
.af faf HI
select the thnnest and most miserable
specimens of the canine tribe. They have
n system Of training down the fat CD
dogs TO get them into condition FOR eat
ing. The drove OF perhaps thirty dogs is
gathered tog ther by Ave or six lgorrotes.
who pass ropes through bamboo tubes 10
keep the roDes from getting tangled, ana
then fasten the dogs in parties of i've or
six Upon their backs ;hey place the
burdens 10 b. carried down 10 the coast
towns It g. sometimes so heavy that II
IS a wonder how the poor animals can
stand the weight. They lead these anil
mails down the mountains. giving them
trip these dogs grow so thin that II seems
impossible for them to crawl over the
ground But their vitality is wonderful.
They return to their, village with these
skeletons. Now they are In CONDITION
TO eat. The dogs thai are not thin
enough are, given another such trip 10
goes mad they beat IL with sticks until
the flesh and bones are beaten into
Jelly. Then they eagerly cut OF pieces
and throw them into the fire 20 roast.
These people wear very little clothing
ornaments. About The lolns they wear
cloth called tho zee string. Sometimes
the men have car rings made OF dogs
teeth and necklaces OF beads and teeth.
Many Of them are tatooed with various
figures "a birds animals and other natu-
raj objects. The women wear great GUAM
titles OF beads and many Of them have
beads on tho arms and on the ankles.
Most of the tribes are peaceful I'ut
there are those known a the head hunt
ers. who make II their boast that they
have secured the heads Of all their enc
mics There Is sort OF Nat. broad faced
axe which Is used IN this work. What
they need ia the refinement and Influence
Of good schools established among them.
This IL being done by the government,
and teachers are now teaching among
them. Some Of tho experiences OF these