The Ordway new era., 1922-04-28

prepared by the National Geographic
Society, Washington. D. CO
The decision of the Igorrotes, one of
the few Philippine tribes which may
now be called barbarous, no longer to
eat dogs, emphasizes the march OF civ
ilfzation in the out-of-the-way portions
of the islands. and gives promise that
soon it will be difficult TO find the
primitive customs that decade ago
marked some of the Islands inhabi-
tRnts
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
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 rule
the men wear their hair short, al
though some individuals, especially in
Lepanto allow it TO grow 10 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 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 If ornaments of this
character were to become fashionable
in the United States. When they are
worn the male sex monopolizes the
conversation!
Are Industrious Agriculturists.
The Igorrotes are now peaceful, in
dustrious 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
Igorrotes Irish potatoes and coffee,
introduced years ago by the Span
iards, are raised for sale. Pigs and
chickens are kept in considerable num-
bers, but are, as a rule, eaten only on
ceremonial occasions. Dogs have
been a highly appreciated article of
diet and We're brought in large num-
bers TO Baguio from the lowlands for
sale. On Sunday mornings the Baguio
dog market presented n unique spec
tacIe.
The Benguet Igorrotes raise good
horses in considerable numbers, and
both men and women ride with skill,
differing absolutely in this respect
from the Ifugaos, Bontoc Igorrotes
and Kalingas, who neither keep horses
nor know how to use them.
In the vicinity of Kabayan the Ben
guet Igorrotes build good houses,
which have floors and sides of boards
and are even possessed of windows
while near Baguio and Cervantes a
number of individuals have construct
ed up-to-date dwellings with galva
nized iron roofs, furnished with chairs
tables, beds and American stoves
The houses are usually grouped in
small villages, but sometimes stand
singIy in very isolated places.
The Benguet and Lepanto Igorrotes
have mined gold for centuries and are
the only native miners in the Philip
pines. Ancient gold ornaments of un
known origin are still to- be foun'
among them.
Like the other tribes of northern Lu
xon, they are music-loving people
They sing very pleasantly and some
times use bamboo flutes to accompan!
vocal music. Their dance music Is pro
duced by gansas and long-barrelet
wooden drums with skin. heads. Tht
tone of such drum Is varied by I'm