The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-03-31

- MUST write of some of the char
acteristics and peculiar customs
of the natives in certain parts of
the islands of the Philippines. In
the mountains of the Benguet
province at Beguio. the summer
capital, is the home of the lgorrotes.
They remind one in their appearance
OF the lower caste OF negro to be
found in the swamp districts of Louisi-
ana or the mountain districts of North
Carolina and Tennessee, writes J.
Hamilton Lewis, in Chicago Evening
Post.
OF medium height, black and dark
brown color, with short, matty black
halr, half-tiatted nose, stocky of figure
and erect of stature, such are the out
lines of these natives, The men wear
little crowns for hats. composed of
anything that dazzles, and all the tas-
sells that can sway in the breeze. This
adornment is set on the back of the
head, as a fez is worn by the Turk
A shirt OF any fabric, as gaudy as can
be obtained, comes only to the middle,
and there is met with the belt that is
the only remaining garment. This is
tlght-ttting and held only by string.
In these mountains the cold becomes
great at times. Frost and particles of
snow are Ctten seen, and at night it is
always cold. yet these men never
wear covering and sleep in huts and
tents, as did the primitive American
Indians. They go barefoot, save that
OF late form of sar dal is assumed for
perfect dress. This covers only the
toes and is worn with no sock.
Often one may see anachronisms of
civilization in these lgorrotes; fiat.
headed. their ears pierced through or
the lower part pulled down and
stretched so large as to wear SPOOL
the usual spool on which thread is
wound-in their ears as adornments
and their teeth blackened. To this is
added shirt OF blue army cloth with
brass buttons, like soldiers jacket;
nat or derby OF straw, depending or
what has been traded the Wearers; 6
sword in the shape OF an American
bayonet, for which they have ex
changed their head ak, an instrument
they carry to cleave off heads OF peo
pie they meet and dislike, or use il
assaults in war.
With this military accoutermen
they are adorned above the waist; be
low, as was Adam, ii we trust the de
scription OF the Bible; naked to hi!
enemies" in the language of Cardina
Wolsey. This Igorrote is sight Io
thu gods-ot photography.
The women reverse the process
skirt adorns or founders about thei
legs. This Is made OF a material look
INF like jute bagging. Sometimes tner
is sandal on the loot. at the waist
flowing cloth, fiutterlng at the ends
OF most flaming color when obtainable
from the waist up abreast the tide
OF wind naked to the breeze" in
Walt Whitman spectacle. There i
not a cloth or covering until tn
head is reached. Then possibly
shawl or wrap which is lately al
sumed display of fashion upon occs
sions.
Sunday is their market day.
Commissioner Worcester, the mos
learned man in the east on the n;
tives, provided a building for then
TO this they como on Sundays. quie
unperturbed, with no curiosity as I
the foreigner. They affect the super
ority OF attitude characteristic of tn
Indian; that is, to overlook supe
cilously the tact that white persC
Is about, so Insignificant to them al
such unimportant intrusions.
At this market are brought all th
dogs to be had. For dogs are the chit
object OF trade. AS it is cattle at oil
stockyards, or chickens in our marke
or turkeys in Spain, so it is dogs
the Igorrote country. The dog is Ii
animal OF food. He is to the Igorro1
as the pig to the Chinaman. But maj
1T is the fat pig which the Chimes
seeks, and the fat rat. The lgorro
must have only a thin, poor, waste
dog. The thinner, the poorer. Il
more emaciated the animal is. Il