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

gering the head and by pressing the
long barrel with the bare arm. The
sounds produced by these instruments
are supplemented by striking bit Of
steel upon q stone. When a dance ID
in progress a man with the steel and
stone and two gansa players march
about with the dancers, while the
drum players, usually two in number,
squat close by.
A number of schools have been es-
tablished for these people. Girls are
taught to weave good cloth. Young
men have been educated sufficiently to
serve successfully as secretaries, and
treasurers Of their towns.
The daily wage has risen steadily
since the American occupation and
opportunity to work can practically al
ways be had by those who wish for 1t.
The people of this tribe have pros
pered under American rule and today
live in better houses, are better fed,
wear better clothes and enjoy better
health than ever before
E1Sa0-SVNublUH
The Bontoc Igorrotes are a strong,
warlike, head-hunting tribe number
ing approximately 10000 They are
almost limited to the very mountain
Gus region constituting the subprov-
ince of BOntOc. but a very few are to
be found in the subprovince Of Kahn
ga. For the most part their territory
Is separated from that of neighbOrIng
tribes by mountain barriers.
They are straight-haired people,
probably of Malayan origin. Both men
and women are splendidly developed
and are considered by many observers
physically superior to any other Phil
ippine tribe except the KalIngas,
While on the average they are more
muscular than the latter people, they
are at the same time more heavily, not
to say clumsily built. Both men and
women were uncleanly, but there is a
noticeable improvement in this regard.
The dress Of the men is usually
clout, although this is sometimes re-
placed by a mere apron. Blankets are
comparatively rare. The men have long
hair, banged across the forehead and
rolled into a knot behind, where it is
confined by a jaunty, more or less
highly Ornamented, rattan cap. Many
Of them make huge holes in the lObes
Of their ears, into which they thrust
wooden plugs, bamboo rings and vari-
GUS other objects which they consider
ornamental. Occasional individuals
wear huge metal PENDANTS in their
ears.
The women use ear ornaments sim
liar to those Of the men, and in addi- |
ton wear in their hair and about their |
necks more or less elaborate strings
Of beads, boar tusks, dog teeth, and |
seeds.
When there was occasion to swim |
or ford streams or to work in the /
water in rice fields, both men and
women discarded their garments with
out any apparent hesitation, although /
who had occasion to work long
IN the fields usually, but by no means
always, extempOrized skirts of leaves.
The typical house of the Bontoc
LgOrrote. has grass roof which over
hangs, but does not meet low board
sides. There is a storeroom in the |,
'oOf. The ground space is divided
between a sleeping-box at the end OPP
)osite the entrance, a stall in which
food is prepared, another stall in
which it is cooked, and a larger space
Utilized as may be convenient.
The houses are grouped in large
villages, which are often readily ac-
'essible. The people of this tribe de-
,ended on large numbers of fighting
men for protection rather than on in
The BOntoc 1gOrrotes were once in
'eterate head-hunters, and were for
nerly constantly at war not only with
tribes, but among them
elves. Fortunately, head-hunting has II
low ceased throughout their territory.
They are very fond of music and
ancing, in which they indulge on all
'ossible occasions. The only instru-
nents used are gansas, one Of which
carried and played by each dancer
throughout the performance.
The Bontoc Igorrotes, like the Ifu-
aos and the 'Benguet Igorrotes, are
pirit worshipers. Their religious prac-
Ices consist chiefly in efforts to pro- II
itiate the antics, or spirits Of the t
cad, who are believed to have power 4
Or good and evil.
They GHS homogeneous, but have a +
uriosS system Of trial marriage. When
hey marry they usually continue to {
We together to a ripe old age. Di- '
Orce is, however, permitted under c
srtain circumstances. r