The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-03-21

conduct, although simple, is strict.
They worship in their homes, and In
the fields, but have no priests.
They have no written language and
no literature Of any sort. But they
have a number of curious folk tales.
One Is somewhat akin to the Adam
and Eve story. Lumawig, out of love
for his people, sent an old couple to
earth with a new food for the Igorot
ltribes. The old couple on a certain
day were to explain It's use to the
mortals, but the latter became curious
and could not wait until the appoint
ed time. Two Of the Igorots stole the
bag In which the new food was hid
den. This so angered Lumawig that
he said the Igorots thereafter would
have to till the ground and gain their
food by the sweat of their brows. The
new food was rice. 1t today Is the
great staple OF the people. Rice
and sweet potatoes are the only things
they raise.
Another legend tells Of the origin Of
head hunting. In warfare the Igorot
always brings home the heads Of his
victims. One day the Moon, which Is
a woman, was beating out brass. The
| young child Of the Sun stood near by.
watching. His scrutiny angered the
| Moon, and she threw a stick at him,
causing decapitation. The Sun then
| appeared and put his child's head back
on his trunk, declaring that because
| Of the Moons wanton act mortals
would henceforth cut off each others
heads when in wrath.
Know How to lrrIgate.
Although primitive in their planting
and harvesting the Igorots mastered
all the details of irrigation. This is
the source Of their prosperity. They
have terraced all the mountainsides
and raise two crops of rice a year.
While the Igorots as a race are
small, they are exceptionally well de-
veloped. They are great mountain
climbers. Dress reform does not both
er them. A thin breechcioth anu a
happy smile make M their costume,
which they wear the year round. They
are much like the aboriginal Indian OF
America In many customs, n in par
tcular being that the women do all
the work, while the men sit around In
indolent ease, smoking green tobacco
in ill-smelling pipes. The women and
children smoke, too.
Superstition enters into their cures
for sickness. When q part of the body
is injured they tattoo little stars all
over the spot, believing that by this
means they will drive out the little
devils that have taken up their abode
there. Being exposed to the sun and
weather at all times they are constant
ly shedding their skin. When death
occurs in a family the natives take
chicken meat and other foods and a
great feast Is held, followed by q wild
dance similar to the dances OF the
American Indians. The body is then
buried, and the personal belongings OF
the dead person are handed among the
relatives and the visitors depart. For
ornamentation the women gather little
berries. which they string and which
are then plated In the strands Of their
black hair.
They relish dog meat. and after they
have fattened a dog on rice they have
a barbecue and a wild dance, beating
doleful music from the copper and
brass and wooden tomtoms.
But with all their quaint and saw
age customs the Igorots are patriotic
to the American flag now, and want to
go to the trenches for the Great Apo.