Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1922-04-20

Prepared by the National Geographi,
Society, Washington, D. CO.
The decision of the Igorrotes, one Of
the few Philippine tribes which may
now be called barbarOus, no longer tt
eat dogs, emphasizes the march Of civ
ilization in the out-Of-the-way portions
Of the islands, and gives promise that
soon ii. will be difficult to find the
primitive customs that a decade age
marked some Of the islands inhabi.
tantS.
There are perhaps 100000 Of the
various IgorrOtes-those of Benguet
LepantO, Amburayan and Bontoc. Only
the latter have been head-hunters in
recent decades. The Igorrotes are q
robust and vigorous people. Both men
and women are, as rule, short, heav-
lily built and strongly muscled, with
broad, spreading feet. Their hair is
perfectly straight. Many Of them have
large and beautiful eyes. AS a rule
the men wear their hair short, al
though some individuals, especially in
LepantO, allow It to grow to a consid-
cradle length.
A few years ago the usual dress Of
the men was the clout, supplemented,
when the means of the individual per-
mitted, with a cotton blanket. They
were, however, glad to wear flannel
shirts and coats of khaki or blue army
cloth when Obtainable. They also
took early and kindly to hats. Indeed,
many of them wore hats of their own
make.
In view Of the scanty costume of the
men, it was a surprising fact that the
women were ordinarily careful to keep
their bodies fully covered, although
when working about the house, weed
ing rice fields, or washing clothes, they
frequently omitted upper garments.
Wealthy women, even in the early
days of American control, often wore
several superimposed skirts and near
ly all bound towels about their heads.
Neither sex has any very elaborate
ornaments. Some of the men adorn
themselves with large bands Of beads
or wire and with ear ornaments of
brass or silver. They often tattoo the
backs Of their hands.
In Benguet a number of wealthy
women possess beaten plates of thin
gold, which they wear between their
lips and front teeth on special occa-
Sions, thus completely closing their
mouths. Doubtless many American
men would rejoice il ornaments of this
character were to become fashionable
in the United States. When they are
worn the male sex monopOlizes the
Are industrious AgrieuItUrlsts.
The Igorrotes are now peaceful, in
1ustriOus agriculturists. They live
chiefly on yams, but raise some taro
and considerable quantities of rice,
much of which is grown on terraces.
The most wonderful of these ter
races are constructed by the BOntoc
LgOrrOtes. Irish potatoes and coffee,
introduced years ago by the Span
ards, are raised for sale. Pigs and
chickens are kept in considerable num-
1ers, but are, as rule, eaten only on
occasions. Dogs have
been a highly appreciated article of
liet and were brought in large num-
)ers to Baguio from the Iowlands for
sale. On Sunday mornings the Baguio
log market presented a unique spec
acle.
The Benguet IgorrOtes raise good
lOrseS in considerable numbers. and |
10th men and women ride with skill,
liffering absolutely in this respect
rom the Ifugaos, Bontoc Igorrotes
md Kalingas, who neither keep horses
Tor know how to use them.
In the vicinity of Kabayan the Ben
,uet IgOTotes build good houses,
which have floors and sides of boards |
nd are even possessed of windows, |
While near BaguiO and Cervantes a
lumber of individuals have construct
d up-to-date dwellings with galva-
lied iron roofs, furnished with chairs,
ables, beds and American stoves.
The houses are usually grouped in
mall villages, but sometimes stand
ingly in very isolated places.
The Benguet and Lepanto Igorrotes
ave mined gold for centuries and are
he only native miners in the Philip
ines. Ancient gold ornaments of I'M
nown origin are still to be found T
along them.
Like the other tribes of northern Luz
on, they are a music-lOving people.
hey sing very pleasantly and some
mes use bamboo flutes to accompany
Ocal music. Their dance music is pro-
uced by gansas and long-barreled
OGDEN drums with skin heads. The
me of such drum is varied by I'm