The Tomahawk., 1918-03-28

THOSE wild men of the noun
tains of the island Of Luzon,
the hardy, brown-skinned 1go-
rots, have gone to the caves and
hiding places where they buried their
treasure In the long ago before Dewey
broke the shackles of Spanish rule and
have unearthed sacks of Spanish and
Mexican coins and carried them over
mountain trails to Gov. Hilario Logan
as their Liberty loan contribution.
"Please send this Offering for the
use of the Great Apo across the sea-"
was their simple request. 1t amounts
to about $8,891.
AS an example Of how this primitive
people answered the call of the Great
Apo for help when the last Liberty
loan drive was made by Governor Lo-
gan, it is told that three Benguet 1g-
orots came in from an Out-of-the-way
corner Of the mountains one day, car
'rying sacks of old Spanish treasure,
amounting to more than $1,447.5O.
Commenting on this humble Offering,
the Manila Bulletin says:
''The 1900 pesos, while not in them
selves a great amount when the Phil
ippine total subscriptions of over
$6,5OO,OOO is taken into consideration,
are regarded by the authorities of the
mountain province as the most signifi-
can't contribution to the entire Lib
erty loan campaign in the islands, COM
ing as they do from an aboriginal peo-
pie who never before trusted, any
savings bank but mother earth, but
have been led in 18 years to confide in
the integrity Of the "Great Apo across
the seas" to such an extent that they
unearth their treasure and lug 1t over
the mountains that it may be sent
to him to aid in prosecuting the war
against Germany.
'"This was not all Of the Igorot sub
scriptlon by any means, according to
the reports which have just reached
this city from the mountain capital,
these stating that the 1900 pesos SUBJ
scrlbed by the Igorots Of Benguet prov
ince formed a part of the $4,000 Pc
sos ($42 ,64O) subscription given by
the civilian residents of Bagulo and
the immediate vicinity. The greatest
surprise Of all was the eagerness Of
the Igorots throughout the subprov-
ince and Governor Logan may well
be proud of his work. In the few
days he had at his disposal he reach
ed even the most distant towns In the
mountains and aroused the Igorots to
their great demonstration of patriot
ISM"
Want 20 Go to the Front.
Not only did the Igorots give their
treasure, but they offered their serv-
ices to Governor General Harrison, and
are anxious to go to France to help
the Great Apo to win the war for free
dom. Judge James Ross of the colo
nial administration, who recently made
an extended tour of Luzon. said that
eyery mountain station where he stop
ned was filled with natives who asked
for q chance to enlist. Each ma
tive came in with his discharge
papers, showing the length and
ouality of service he had rem
dered to the government OF the Pmi-
iprines. Then, saying that he had
heard the United States was at war
with Germany, he would urge his claim
to hear arms under the American flag.
Judge Ross would advise the sturdy
volunteer to rejoin the constabulary,
IN which many vacancies exist, but
this would not satisfy the 1gorot. One
and all wanted to fight.
When one stops to consider the bar
barrie life that the 1gorot still lives
this offer of treasure and service to
Uncle Sam is all the more remarkable.
For the Igorot Is still very. much him.
self and is totally different from all
his other Philippine brothers. Amer
icans are establishing schools, and
education is making some progress.
But the Igorots have no laws, and each
community is ruled by council Of old
men. they live in the northwestern
section of the island Of Luzon, and
number about 1S5.OO0. Theirs is a
mountainous country, six days march
inland from the nearest civilized town.
They ore a mixture Of savage, barba-
Ran and civilized people.
Worship One God.
They have one god, Lumawig. and
their religious system Is sort Of wor-
shin Of the spirits Of the departed,
whom they believe to inhablt the earth
Just as before they died. except that
they are invisible to mortal eyes. The