The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

. the greatest number Of their enemies
heads; the larger number Of heads OBJ
tained, the higher the distinction in
which the individual warrior is held
While all the tribes are tattooed upon
the arms and wrists, the warrior who
bears the marks of the tattoo across
his breast wears the badge of honor
that commands obedience and the high
est respect of the other members Of
the tribe.
Fuller of the Head Hunters
A striking instance Of this is shown
In the case of the present ruler Of
the head hunters, Chief Antonio, who,
though young in years and small in
stature, yet rules his wild men with
an iron hand and an authority from
Which-When in their native country
there is no appeal. From the fact that
in his many incursions into the en-
emies' lands he has brought back the
greatest number of heads, he is liber-
ally adorned with the blue cabalistic
signs of honor indelibly worked into
his copper -colored skin.
The Bontocs are also the dog eating
tribe, and for some time subsequent
to their arrival at the exposition
grounds had no opportunity to indulge
in their favorite dish. This soon re-
suited in wild and clamorous demands
for dogs, which were furnished them,
and now may be seen contentedly ly-
ing about the huts of the villages ours
of various sizes unsuspiciousfy await
ing closer association with their
loving masters.
potes on Dog Feasts
The Bontoc is a sun worshipper and
among the rites of his religion the dog
feast holds a prominent place 1t may
be suspected that the cravings Of his
appetite, as well as his religious zeal,
prompt him to observe it often and
regularly. This peculiar ceremony is
but one Of many practiced by this
tribe and was especially prominent at
the recent dedication of their village,
comprising over thirty huts, when the
Dog stew, however, was supplemented
with a liberal supply of roast pig and
roast chicken.
This dedication was novel, inter-
esting, and to the Igorrotes a most
sacred ceremony. The blood of the pig
is absolutely necessary to the final
dedication of a village, and is also used
especially for the dedication of houses
occupied exclusively by the women Of
the tribe. The baptism of the fireside
and the dedication of each home is ac-
compliShed by the sprinkling of the
blood of the chicken thereon, for which
one chicken is used. for each hut In
addition to this elaborate exemplifica-
ton Of the religious ritual of the
tribes, there are weird chants and con-
tinuous dances to the music of the
braZen tom-toms, while as a grand
finale to the feast and dedicatory cere-
monies is given a great dance partici-
pated in by ali the members of the
tribe.
Dancing is a favorite pastime of the
Bontoc, not only the dance dedicatory,
not only the dance religious, but also
the daily dance for his own pleasure
and for that of the exposition visitor.
AT Short-intervals each day one may
witness an exhibition Of the pic
turesque sun dance as INDUCED in by
these bronZed wards of our national
government. In the center of the group
are the women, scantily garbed in
brightly colored mantleS, with slow.
dignified step and with arms extended,
setting the pace and guiding the
movements of the semi-fanafical
dancers in the figures and evolutions
Of their barbarous exhibition. To the
music of the tom-toms, in an endless
circle, the Bontoc head-hunting war
riors dance about their women, bran
dishfng their spears above their wood
en- shields.
Clad only with a minute necklace
and abbreviated green breech-clout, in
perfect time and complicated step,
these warriors crouch low over their
ringing tom-toms, and in movements
now fast, now slow, move in conformity
with the actions of the women. Sud
denly this circling movement changes
to that Of a platoon and the nude
BRONZE figures of the dancers in per-
fect alignment. now advancing as to