The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1912-10-05

One of the seven sub-pro vinces composing the
tain Province is Benguet, the capital of which, B
"a mile above level, and 175 miles due nor
Manilais the terminus of one of the most wond
roads in the world, built by the natives with the
of American engineering skill. Extending all the
from Baguo to the sea, it is carved to a large ex
tent out of solid rock skirting the sides of steep
mountains and crossing deep canyons in many
places by suspension bridges. For most of its
length IL is wide enough for narrow-tread CARTS
and at intervals Of eighteen miles comfortable
fveroom rest houses have been erected for the
benefit Of travellers. Running at an elevation of
5000 to 1000 fet, 1t passes through tropical
cry Of unsurpassed beauty, commands magnificent
views. and should in the future become
route much patronized by tourists.
The last of the Benguet Igorots to come under
the jurisdiction and control of the United States
government were the people of Atoc. who occupied
remarkable natural stronghold bold peak
$500 feet high. which juts out from the surround
Ing mountains its precipitous sides defying attack
In this rocky fortress dwelt the tribe, small in
numbers. but warlike working the rice paddles
in the valleys below by day and seeking refuge in
their eyrie at night They preferred ndepen-
dence to submission Nevertheless being eyentu-
ally overcome by force of arms. they are now en-
tirely docie. Generally speaking. the Igorots are
peaceably inclined. They notably contented
and cheerful. and the women have voice in their
councils, often exercising a controlling influence
Strongest in numbers of all the savage peoples
and among the most inyeterate head hunters were
the Ifugaos. There are about $4,000 of them
Bitterly hostile to begin with, they have become
warm friends and admirers OF the Americans. and
their services, voluntarily given. have been uti
liked on an extensive scale in the building of roads
and trails. BY their own suggestion they sub
NIT to labor tax which demands ten days work
per annum from each able bodied man. Several
companies of Ifugao constabulary have been or
ganized and do admirable service keeping order
among the trbesmen
Equally fierce and as yet untamed to any great
extent the Kalingas. They were inveterate
head hunters until recently, but have almost Civ
up the practice Some of them are beginning
20 cut their hair and dress like Christians. and
quite a number of the children are learning to
read and write. One small group of their settle
ments adopted an attitude of defiance toward the
Americans. and two years ago Walter F Hale.
lieutenant governor OF that province paid the
rebels visit When they threw spears at him
he picked them up and handed them back with an
intimation that such actions were discourteous
lie told them that he wanted to be friends with
them But they replied that they did not desire
to be friends, and that they intended to take his
head at the first convenient opportunity.
Such was the situation of affairs up to a short
time ago. when four settlements broke the peace
and went the warpath Lieut.-Gov. Hale with
strong detachment OF Ifugao constabulary and
assisted by force OF friendly Kalingas. thereupon
organized punitive expedition attacked the rebel
villages. and wiped them out, burning the houses
and Killing the pigs