The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-07-06
A Letter From Manila

Manila, p. L, May II, 1916.
Dear Mr.. Walton:
Since | have been in the =. Is.
for one whole year | will write you
few of my experiences here have
seen many interesting things and
learned much about the people TO
write all of it would take book but
| think | can write a few interesting
things in a letter. Let me first state
that the reply to my other letter was
received and ! Vas much pleased
with it.
My first school year here is finish
ed and I have enjoyed five weeks of
ten weeks vacation | am in
Manila now, having just returned
from a three weeks trip to Bagino
This place is 1913 miles from Manila
in the Mountain Province. which is
the home of the Igorote Wild tribes
Bagino VAS formerly the summer
capital of the Philippines, but since
the Democrats have been in power
things are not as they used 10 be
probably because a Democrat would
hate so terribly to let anything done
by a Republican stand. Bagino is
small city 5000 feet above sea
level, located amongst pine clad
hills. The days are comfortable,
reminding one of June day in
Maine. The nights, however, are
very cool and We are not uneomfort-
able with four blankets on our bed.
There is teachers encampment
here each year during April and May
and every form of amusement is pro
yided among the most interesting of
which are the hiking trips over the
mountain trails. The native people
who reside in these hills and noun
tains are very interesting. They
are dark brown in color, very small
in stature being about A feet inches
to five feet in height and finely de-
veloped physically. They are very
primitive in their manner of living
and are non-Christian. They live
in small villages and the people of
one town may never see the people
of towns only a few miles away. III
is even said that sometimes the in
habitants of a town will never leave
the valley in which their village is
built. This is due Of course 10 the
/ mountains, pOOr@ means, or an abb
sence of means of conveyance and
to a lack of desire for travel. The
people are uncivilized and formerly
were head hunters. When one had
an enemy he armed himself with
spear and head-aX and went on the
war path so to speak. When the
enemy was encountered a hand to
hand combat ensued in which one
or the other lost his life. The vic
tor cuts off the head of his van
pushed enemy and carries il back to
the settlement as a trphyy of his
! fn1
thority that the Dato of one of the
Moro tribes, who are also head hunt
ers, had as heads to his credit and
that to attain the number of so would
be a great honor. In recent years
head hunting has been less practical
than formerly. The people who are
none Christian. do have a religion of
their own, however. The secrets of
their religion are very closely held.
! One American was sent among these
people by an institution in the States
to learn what he could of their rel-
gion. He was told many things
about il but no secrets were revealed.
Not being satisfied with what was
willingly told him. he insisted upon
further information and as a reward
for his insistance. his head was cut
off. 1t should not be understood
from this that the people are danger
Gus to live among, if one does not
| incur their hatred. The people live
mostly on rice, the roots of plants,
! fruits, and the flesh of animals of
which dog meat is considered best.
/ The Igerote Dog-market is very in
teresting place to visit on a Sunday
morning. The dog which is the
poorest in flesh brings the highest
price. about 75c in gold. | have
stated that the Igerotes were non
Christian which is. generally speak
ing, true. In rare cases however
they become Christianized The
following incident illustrates how
easily il is accomplished. A fol-
| lower of Christ entered one of the
native villages and calling the chief
and members of the tribe to the num-
Der of about 200 about him, ex-
pounded to the assembage the bene-
j fits of Christianity Having finished
his discourse permission was given
by the chief to baptize those present.
1 The divine one then led the pagans
i to a nearby stream and baptized all.
A short time after another preacher of
the Christian doctrine visited the
same settlement and wished TO con-
vert the people. He was told that
they already had been converted and
baptsed. Not liking the thought of
making a fruitless pilgrimage among
the people he told them that the one
who had gone before him was an i'm
poster and that evil things would hap
pen to them if they were not baptised
by good man. He offered to bap-
tie them for 20 centavoes each. Of
course the superstitious natives be-
lieving that some great misfortune
was about to befall them readily CON
scented 10 a second baptism. After
the clergy had performed the cere-
mony he collected 20 centavoes from
each one and departed happily.
Much attention has been given by
the government to the education of
the wild tribes. Many schools have
been established. The aim of educa-
ton have been 10 make the people
economically independent To at
tain these ends the pupils are taught
farming and the manufacture of such
things as baskets and cloth. Articles
made by the pupils find a ready mar
ket and each pupil is given a portion
of the proceeds received from the sale
of products. One girls school which
visited had so pupils all of whom
spent a part of each day weaving
There are probably 100 900 or / 000