The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-09-28
IGORROTES LIVE IN
TRUE NATIVE STYLE

Delayed on the trip from their home
in the mountains Of NurthW estern Lu
zon by tropical rains, unfordable riv
ers and typhoons, these strange wijt
people reached Manila on August
and the EXP ositiOn on September /
Their village was ready for them il
skeleton form, and since their arriya
the houses have been thatched, ant
are now complete. 1t consists Of nv
merous straw covered huts, payiliCl
in which ceremonial dances occur, 8
public building which serves rs
court house, jail and assembly plaC
for all mems meetings, an "O-laR" o.
dormitory for girls and unmarried VIC
men, ia wi" or dorm tory for boz
and unmarried men, and other struc
lures necessary to give correct rep
resentation of the home lifo Of the,C
people.
Among the more than one hundred
tribes of the Philippine Islands the
Igorrote IL one of the most conspicu.
Gus, and easily the most interesting,
because of his strange method of life
and still stranger customs. So little
known is he, that today he would be
as great curiosity in the city of Ma
Mia as in Portland. They are of Ma.
lay origin, of superb bronze color,
long straight hair, and remarkable
physiques, although as a rule not tall.
They are the only people IN the Phil
ippine Islands with keen sense Of
humor. In all their movements they
are singularly graceful. The men
wear breech clout, called "G-string"
and picturesque little hat, which is
not worn as head covering but as
pocket. In their native condition the
women wear only an apron of leaves,
but here they wear short skirt and
queer jacket made Of native woven
cloth.
The Igorrote Is a pagan, barbarian
In culture, an agrioulturist from ne
cessity, terraCing the mountain sidet
with stone, forming "sementeras"
whore they grow rice in the dry sea.
son, while others grow theirs in the
wet season. This il accomplished by
diverting streams so they will irrigate
the sementeras, He Is head hunter
There is constant warfare between
neighboring tribes, and head hunting
10 iAbb bIll q ulNhuH Va NNli -htltllNtf
but in a measure pastime, for after
member has taken and brought
homo IA human head month is giyon
to happy celebration. There are rites
and ceremonies peculiar to the event
aud there are constant dances and
feasts, which bring to the otherwise
hard worked people relaxation and SO.
ciHl intercourse.
All lgorrotes cat dog 1t is "A tribal
dish. No female, however, il permit.
ted to partake of dog flesh, because ii
is considered to have quality which
nerves up the fighter for the head
hunting expeditions, and the Igor.
rotes do not care to have their women
fight. Before agreeing to come tC
Portland, the lgorrotes eXacted +
promise that their customs would not
be interfered with, and they are per.
mitted to have their favorite dish at
the village. The dogs are carried to
the Pa ba-fu-nan or public building,
the throat is cut, the dog bled, sing,
ed, dressed, cut up, boiled, and serv
ed in true Bontoc style.
The native industries of these peO-
pie are shown in the village, aud the
women may be seen weaving their
bright t-Colored cotton cloths, while the
men are engaged in making rings, bas
kets and pocket hats. Performances
are given from ten in the morning to
eleven at night, consisting of different
dances, native songs, spear throwing
practice, sham battles, otc.
In the party are three chiefs, the
ihst ever to leave the islands, each
with record IA "a head hunter. Do
mingo, the first chief, according to
official Spanish records, has taken
seventeen human heads.
The Igorrotes are here in response
to request made by the president of
the Lewis and Clark exposition to the
government of the Philippine islands.
At the st, Louis Worlds Fair this
village was visited 10y President Roos.
evelt, Vice President Fairbanks and
their families. 1t was endorsed by
cabinet officers, senators, Worlds
Fair officials, members of the Board
of Lady Managers, press and pulpit
as the most unique educational feat
uro. The patrons are learning, too, |
that the lgorrute is industrious and
not mere eater of dogs
The lEorrote village has caught the |
popular fancy and is largely attended. |
1t is an educational exhibit of high
order, the only one at the exposition !
portrayinA primitive man, and the
little brown people are daily adding |
their quota to the "gaycty of nations |
as eNemplilied at the fair.