The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-05-01
REPORTS HABITS
OF HEAD HUNTERS
Philippine Official Writes Hide
Gus Facts.
METHODS OF THE IFUGAOS.

Six Out Of Seven Tribes Practice De-
capitation of Enemies-Use Heads as
Ornaments In Houses-Families Lose
Respect For Victims-Weird Buria!
Rites Are Observed.
Writing In the Geographic Magazine,
Dean 9. Worcester, formerly of the
University of Michigan, now secretary
of the interior of the Philippine Is
lands, gives some interesting particu-
lars concerning the head hunters of
the island of LuZon. Six of the seven
of the tribes found in the northern
part of the island have been addicted
to head hunting. Take the Ifugaos,
for example.
when l first entered their territory
in 1903" writes Mr.. Worcester, many
of their houses were ornamented with
fresh human skulls, and | saw various
victims of head hunting raids.
when an lfugao war party returns
with a head ii executes a ceremonial
march, or dance-one hardly knows
which to call (which defies success
full description. The men have their
split rattan raincoats on their backs,
On the insides of these r~aincoats are
pockets, which form convenient recep-
tacles for CORY trophies. The warriors
carry beautifully fashioned and deadly
steel headed lances and serviceable,
plain board shields, strengthened by
rattan lashings to prevent splitting.
ZigZag white marks are painted on
the shields, indicating a ceremonial
occasion.
Creeping on Victim.
THE warriors do not approach stand
ing, but creep along the ground and In
this position execute a sort of lock
step, beating upon their shields with
billets of wood and bending in perfect
unison far to the right and then far to
the left. Some of the men make
threatening motions with their lances.
1t Is impossible for me to describe the
weird effect produced, but | hope yet
to be able to use q moving picture
camera on a file of men engaging In
this strange ceremonial, which they
will doubtless soon forget, as head
hunting has now practically ceased
among them.
"When the dancing ground Is reached
the head Is impaled upon a short stake
and the warriors circle around it in
the characteristic war dance Of this
tribe. Some of them take of their
ornaments and hang them on the head,
at the same time jeering at 1t as If II
were capable of hearing and under
standing them. Dancing and feastiDg
may last for days.
Skulls as Ornaments.
ultimately the skull, which has not
been mutilated in any way, is boiled
and thoroughly cleaned. The lower
jaw is fastened In place with rattan
and the trophy is taken home by the
man who won it. It serves him as a
household ornament. II may be placed
side the door of his house; it may find
a resting place within, over the FIRE
place; 1t may be placed outside at one
corner, with the skulls of carabaos and
pigs which have been eaten at feasts.
81 have seen a house with a tasteful
ornament frieze of alternating carabao
skulls and human skulls extending
around It at the height Of the floor. l
have seen others with great open work
baskets Of skulls under the caves.
No Reverence For Victim.
"a man who loses his head is con-
sidered to have treated his family and
friends somewhat shabbily. He Is not
buried as an ordinary person would be.
but Is carried to a resting place on
ONE hillside far from his native vii
lage. A tunnel Is e~xcavated In the
earth. his body is carried into it and
placed In a sitting position, and the
tunnel Is then filed. A lance is thrust
into the ground over the grave to show
that he was killed In war, and an
anito image rudely fashioned out of
grass may be left to watch over his
last resting place"
Panama Treasury Solvent.
The treasury Of Panama, which was
depleted when Belisario Porras as
sumed the presidency on Oct. 1, 1912,
now has more than $4,000 on hand.
according to a report recently made.