The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-08-04


being taught to 60 shopping. II 10 an
important means Of civilization In the
Mountain Province Of Luzon-a region
Of lofty peaks. deep sorges. and prime
val forests. inhabited by . quarter OF
million people who eat their meat raw.
drink warm blood. and indulge Tor have
done so until recently an appetite for
wholesale homicide.
As means Of civilization (under the
direction of our War Department.. trade
is being developed am6ng these wild
folk. In the past 1t has been necessary
for them to make long journeys to the
coast towns. to buy salt, cloth. and other
necessaries. But within the last few
months government stores. called Eek
changes" have been started at various
POINTS. and are kept supplied with every
thing likely to be required by the ma
tives-the prices for goods being those
current in Manila, plus 20 per cent and
cost Of transportation. The stores not
only sell, but also buy. They purchase
baskets. wood-carvings. native weapons,
and articles Of savage dress such as can
be sold In Manila as curios, paying lib
orally for them in cash.
One of the seven subprovinces compos-
ing the Mountain Province is Benguet.
the capital of which. Baguio-a mile
above sea-level. and I75 miles due north
OF Manila-is the terminus of one Of the
most wonderful roads in the world, built
by the natives with the help Of Ameri-
can engineering skill. Extending all the
way from Baguio to the sea, II Is carved
to a large extent out OF solid rock, skirt
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 five-room rest houses have
been erected for the benefit OF travellers.
Running at an elevation of 5000 to 1000
feet II passes through tropical scenery
Of unsurpassed beauty, commands mag
nifcent views, and should in the near fu-
ture become route much patronized by
tourists.
Last of InEorots.
The last Of the Benguet Ingorots to
come under the Jurisdiction and control
Of the United States government were the
able natural stronghold-a bold peak $500
feet high. which juts out from the sur
rounding 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
less, being eventually overcome by force
of arms. they are now entirely dociie.
Generally speaking, the Ingorots are
peaceably inclined. They are notably
contented and cheerful, and the women
have q voice in their councils. often ex-
ercising a controlling influence.
Strongest in numbers of all the savage
peoples and among the most inveferate
head hunters were the Ifugaos. There
are about 125.oo0 of them Bitterly hos
tile to begin with. they have become
warm friends and admirers OF the Amcrt-
cans. and their services, voluntarily
given, have been utilized on an extensive
scale in the building of roads and trails.
By their own suggestion, they submit to
labor tax which demands ten days
work per annum from each able-bodied
man. Several companies of Ifugao cCn-
stabulary have been organized, anG do
admirable service, keeping order among
the tribesmen.
Equally fierce and rs y,t unframed to
any great e xtent are the kalingas. They
were inveterate head hunters until re-
Gently, but have alElos: given w the
practice. Some of them are beginning
to cut their hair and dress like Chris
tians, and quite a number Of the children
are learning to read and write One small
group Of their settlements adopted an
attitude OF defiance toward the Ameri-
cans, 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 10 and
handed them back with an intimation
that such actions were 5Iscourteous. He
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.
Wipes Out Village.
Such was the situation of affairs up to
short time ago. when four settlements
broke the peace" and went on the war
path. Lieut. Gov. Hale with a strong de-
tachment of Ifugao constabulary and as
sisted by a force of friendly Kalingas,
thereupon organized a punitive expedi-
ton. attacked the rebel villages. and
wiped them out, burning the houses and
killing the pigs. As-a result, there has
been no further trouble.
The situation in Apayao Is especially
difficult because head-hunting among the
tribesmen of that subprovince is intimate
" connected with their religious faith.
Nevertheless, the practice is being grad
ually stamped out and. with the help of
the Igorot and Ifugao constabulary, a
number of murderers have been arrested
and punished. There Is still a consider
able area over which government control
has not yet been established and which
has not even been opened up by the trails
to any great extent, owing to the mac
cessible character of the region One
should realize. OF course, that head-hunt-
ing among these people is not regarded as
murder IN the ordinary sense Of the word.
II is a field sport and a manly occupation.
established by the custom OF centuries as
BETTING a warrior.
Most troublesome and untruseworthy of
all the tribes of northern Luzon are the
Ilongots, of the subprovince of Nueva
Viscaya. There are not more than 5000
or 5000 of them. but they inhabit a vast
region. most of II very mountainous and
almost wholly covered by virgin forest.
Often their settlements are merely tempo
rary, and they are hard to get at. Enor-
which in the more remote regions con-
tinue to fight among themselves. These
were the people who not long ago muir
dered DR.. William Jones while he was en-
gagged in making chronological notes among
them. Nevertheless. trails are being
pushed into the heart of their country;
two or three government exchanges
have been established: Industrial schools
are being started for their benefit, and ef-
forts are being made to induce them to
extend their agricultural operations
partly for the sake OF rendering their COM
munities more stationary.
Warfare for Centuries.
One should realize that the continual
warfare that has been going on for CEN
turtles among the tribes in the Wild mans
territory Of Northern Iuzon has been