Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-05-20
THE HEAD HUNTING IFUGAo
Great Ceremonies for Them When
They Return With Trophies.

Writing in the Geographic Maga-
zine, Dean C. Worcester, formerly OF
the University Of Michigan, now Sec
retary of the interior of the Philip
pine Islands, gives some interesting
particulars concerning the head hunt
ers of the Island of Luzon. Six of the
seven Of the tribes found in the north
ern part Of the island have been ad-
dicted to head hunting. Take the Ifu-
gaos, for example: when I first en-
tered their territory in 1903" writes
Mr.. Worcester, many Of their houses
were ornamented with fresh human
skulls, and saw various unfortunate
victims Of head-hunting raids
when an Ifugao war party returns
with a head, 1t executes a ceremonial
march, or dance-one hardly knows
which to call it-which defies success
full description. The men have their
split rattan raincoats on their backs.
On the inside of these raincoats are
pockets, which form convenient recep-
Itacles for CORY trophies. The warriors
ICaTTY ldoHioilSo ohN N~-S
|steel-headed lances and serviceable,
plain broad shields, strengthened by
rattan lashings to prevent splitting.
Zigzag white marks are painted on the
shields. Indicating a ceremonial occa-
sion.
| "The warriors do not approach
standing, but creep along the ground
and in this position execute sort OF
lockstep, beating upon their shields
with billets of wood and bending In
perfect unison far to the right and
lthen far to the left. Some Of the men
make threatening motions with their
Ilances. It is impossible for me to de-
scribe the weird effect produced, but
hope yet to be able to use a moving
picture camera on a file Of men en-
gagged in this strange ceremonial,
which they will doubtless soon forget,
as head hunting has now practically
ceased among them.
when the dancing ground is reach
led the head is impaled upon short
lstake and the warriors circle around
lit in the characteristic war dance of
this tribe Some of them take off their
ornaments and hang them on the
head, at the same time jeering at IT
as If it were capable Of hearing and
understanding them. Dancing and
feasting may last for days.
Ultimately the skull, which has not
been mutilated in any way, is boiled
land thoroughly cleaned. The lower
Jaw Is fastened in place with rattan
and the trophy is taken home by the
man who won it. 1t serves him as
household ornament. 1t may be
placed with other skulls on a board
shelf beside the door Of his house;
it may find resting place Within
over the fireplace; it 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 taste
full ornament frieZed Of alternating
carrabao skulls and human skulls, ex-
: tending around it at the height of the
!, floor. 1 have seen others, with great
open workbaskets of skulls hanging
: under the caves.
"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
some hillside far from his native vii
!, lage A tunnel is excavated in the
earth, his body is carried into it and
placed in a sitting position and the
, tunnel Is then filled. 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
!, | l.; L., nlapa