Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-08-27
%Igorrotte Village.
From Philippines to BE
at Huron During State Fair
Week.

the 25th annual state fair Of South
Dakota, none perhaps is more worth.
Of particular mention than the Igor
rotte village. Forty of these mem
berS of one OF the most interesting
tribes Of the Philippines will exem
pity and demonstrate the usual vii
lage life of their tribe. Their social
martial and military customs are al
to be fully shown. These people o
the Bantoc tribe OF Igorrottes unde'
the management Of Capt. j. r. Nc
Rae and Lit. S. Ash, former officers O.
the Philippine constabulary will erect
their tribal huts, and In continuous
performance present their triba
songs of peace and war and illustrate
their Industries and their methods OF
tree climbing for defence as we'll as
their customs in battle.
These Bantoc I%gorrottes are head
hunters, and have the distinction OF
being counted the most savage In wal
and the most peaceful in peace of all
the Philippine tribes. They have al
ways been friendly to the American
soldier and have demonstrated that
attachment in many a heroic and UNI
selfish deed. To make their exhibit
the more complete, accomplished lee
turers having intimate knowledge OF
them and their country and its Gus
toms will tell Of their habits, and US
ages and fully explain their peculiar
tiles. A special feature of their dem
onstration Is the "Ganza GanOng"
dance, a graceful and very pleasing
ceremony which so far has attracted
much attention and study. Although
their only musical instrument is the
Tom-Tom, its crudity is marked by
perfect time as the graceful motions
Of the dancers express their ardent
but symmetrical emotion. Another
dance of special import is the war
dance always held just before the de-
parture of a head hunting expedition.
When it is remembered that most OF
the men In this village, obedient to
the immemorial custom OF their peo-
pie wear upon their breasts the Ia
tooed emblem which proves them
takers OF human heads, the senti-
mental significance of this ceremony
will be more fully appreciated.
In warfare the Igorrotte uses a
double pronged wooden shield and
carries upon his back a basket called
the "head basket in Which he carries
not only his provision for the march
but the heads which prove his prowess
as a warrior. Upon his return to his
village the contents of this basket de-
termine his standing and honor
among his people and the TATTOO mark
he may hereafter wear.
These people are from the interior
OF Luzon, $50 miles from Manila and
100 miles from the coast. They wear
only their native clothing; the only
garments Of the man being the breech
clOut and the peculiar little hat. The
women wear q home woven cloth,
wrapped In a curious manner from
neck to knee. They are 1.-the and
very graceful in movement and seem
never to be at rest.
Among their religious ceremonies
the dog FEAST is n OF special import
and prominence. This is given to
propitfate "Anito" the spirit who
controls the rain clouds, and failing
this placatory observance his work is
evil and unfriendly. With the Igor
rottee spirits control all things and
must be placated according to the
conditions Of the petitioner. Those
among them who die Immediately
join these spirits and must be reck-
oned with as dominatOrs over the af-
fairs of their survivors. AS the In
dian is the aboriginee of America so
the Igorrottee Is the aboriginee Of the
Philippines, many of whom have
never seen these "mountain people,"
that being the meaning Of the term
Igorrotte. There are at least eight
or ten tribes Of these, each occupying
! separate river valley with several
miles of territory and each having a
distinctive dialect. Primitive they
are but not repulsiye: the Igorrottee
Is generally OF a kindly disposition.
trustworth but not servile, observant
and progressive. His home life Is
true and moral. He practices trial
marriage but recognizes no divorce.
A typical Institution among them
IS this trial marriage. When . girl
fancies . young man she steals his
pipe or other property, and he, going
TO seek It. II he is pleased with her
proposes q union. Thereup0n they
begin housekeeping and II their union
be childless they In time are free Of
each other. II, however, . child be
born to them the marriage becomes
permanent for there is no law in Ig-
|orrotte land which permits dissOlu-
tion OF marriage.
In religion these people are Amin
lists, theirs being = spirit belief. They
hold that the soul lives Oh after the
body's death, and In the same form
though invisible TO man and has It's
home In the neighboring mountains,
where IL ID supposed In all respects
-~1 -~l-ASc..- - live sc IL IAvnA .h1ln