Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-20
IN
By
Frederic
J. Haslin.
THE PHILIPPINES

a alcgs of Manila and the contiguous terri
tory, there are seven Christian tribes,
the Bicols, the Cagayans, the nocan0s,
/ the Pampangans, the Pangasinans, the
Visayans and the Zambalans. The Igor
rotes and the Moros are the most widely
known non Christian tribes in America At
Baguio one may still hear the familiar
song Meet Me at st. Louis, Louis" sung
by an Igorrote who dined on dog in the
Philippine section at the big fair. The
| Igorrotes are for the most part Sill saw
ages, but they are not altogether benight-
| ed.
The Igorrotes live in the hills, have feuds
with one another and worship demons,
but as intensive agriculturalists they are.
perhaps the equals of any people on
earth. The Igorrote rice terraces which
enable a large population, to suhsist by
| agriculture in limited area in the rug
ged heart of Luzon. are probably rightly
called the largest Industrial work ever
accomplished by savages. Their methods
of cultivation and scientific fertiliEing are
ahead of those of most civilized countries.
The irrigated terraces, sometimes running
up the sides of precipitous canyons to a
height Of 1900 or 5000 feet, and some
times encircling mountains TO their very
SUBMITS, are more remarkable as hy-
draulic engineering feats than the rice
IeiAaSes VI Japan.
The theory of ethnologists is that the
/ Igorrotes were the first Malay invaders
in Luzon, that they were subsequently
driven to the interior by other Malay
Invaders. and that in a mountainous coun-
try and cool climate they developed in
! to the rugged race of savages they are
, today. Commissioner Dean c. Worcester,
who has won the confidence OF the wild
people, has caused head hunting to cease
lin the Igorrote country He has introduced
the great American game of baseball as
recreation in which the warriors work
Off steam. Their fine physiques and good
training as mountain farmers, hunters
and fighters, make them first rate ball
players, and the time may come when
a team will be sent to America to compete
with white players or Carlisle Indians.
Commissioner Worcester recently invit-
ed a bevy of Infugas chieftains to visit
him in Manila. None of them had ever
seen a city and some of them had never
seen a white man before "Chief Worces-
ter came among them, but they dis
played the most perfect composure when
they were whisSed through crowded
streets in a motor car. AS guests In Mr..
Worcester's handsome home they were
entirely at ease. The only embarrassment
came when a well intended gift OF a WOOL
en- shirt was made to each OF the distin-
guished visitors. 1t is cool and often
cold in the hill country. but rather warm
in Manila. Each chieftain put on mis-
shirt to express his gratitude. Soon each
was perspiring in rivulets. Finally enc
who could stand II no longer "shucked'
his garment, despite the fact that la
dies were present In the drawing room
The others followed suit at once and all
looked the relief they felt.
The wild Moros who formerly made jew
elry out Of all the coins that came into
their possession are now so advanced
that they are attending markets maintain
ed entirely by their own people, and
slavery and other abuses are being grad
uaIly stamped out among them. There
are more than 50 separate non-Christian
tribes. most of whom formerly plundered
one another, fought bloody wars, stole
girls, traded in slaves, and regarded the
white man as their natural enemy. All
of these tribes are now being studied
ethnologicalIy and sociologically with
view TO improving their condition. II is
hoped in time to make them a part OF
the English speaking Philippine nation.
The undertaking is ambitious. but In view
of the response of the wild tribes to ef-
forts now being made, not necessarily
impossible of achievement.