The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-02-15
o0C-@
THE PHILIPPINE TRIBES
Personal Observations of One Who Studied
Them While Serving in the u. S. Army
By E.
(Continued from last week.
By Mr.. e. E. e.

Advantage has been taken of
late years of the natural ability of
the Ifugaos to handle stone, and
mere boys have been taught to
split boulders. cut the stone thus
obtained to the required dimen-
sions. face it, and utilize it in the
construction of dignifed and i'm
posing public buildings.
The Ifugaos cultivate their rice
very carefully and raise splendid
crops when irrigating water does
not fail them. They also raise
beans, onions, gabi (taro) and
cotton on their terraces. Camotes.
or yams, are planted extensively
on the steepest mountain sides.
Pigs and chickens are kept in con-
siderable numbers, but as yet they
have no cattle.
On state occasions the wealthiest
men sometimes purchase carabaos,
which are turned loose to be cut
down with war-knives by invited
guests, each person being entitled
to as much meat as he can slice off
and get away with. Terrific scrim-
IMAGES result, in the course OF
which men are often badly cut,
but the injuries received on such
occasions must be taken in good
part. A man who complained
over having a few fingers chopped
off would lose caste as completely
as would a football player who OBJ
jected to being severely tackled.
The men of certain towns, and
especially of Sapao, are skillful IN
working and tempering steel.
They make excellent lance-heads
and war-knives. They are the only
people in the Philippine Islands
who do not naturally and normally
eat with their fingers. The poorest
Ifugao usually carries a wooden
spoon in his clout and uses it in
food;no himself. The handles of
these spoons are very often well
carved in imitation of human
figures. Striking.loobing wooden
bowls carved in imitation of hogs
or carabaos are in fairly common
use. while under the houses OF
what might be termed the 1fugao
nobility, huge carved ''tagabi." OF
resting benches, fashioned from
single logs and capable of accom-
modating two or more persons
stretched at length, are often
seen.
Until American control was es-
tablished over them, the lfugaos
were inveterate head-hunters, and
their heavy burden of field work
was necessarily largely performed
by women or children, while theil
men did sentry duty on the hill
tops or stood guard over them ir
the fields.
1t is now more than ten years
since a head has been taken ii
their territory, and the severa
settlements are not only on friendly
terms with each other, but witt
the people of neighboring tribes
as we'll. When trouble threatens,
they carry plain rattan-lashed board
shields, which look ugly but are
effective. Their offensive weapons
are the formidable ''bolos'' and
steel-headed lances, and few ol
them have rifles. To-day order il
maintained throughout their terri
tory by Ifugao constabulary sol
diers, who have become expert
rife shots and have shown them
selves to be brave, efficient ano
loyal.
The Ifugaos have only two
musical instruments: a woode1
drum with a skin-head, used IL
connection with certain ceremonial
feasts, and the common gansa,
or timbrel, which they play will
consummate skill. They march t.
its music on the trail and dance t
it on every possible occasion. Thei1