Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-09-28


! gerlng the mead ana by pressing thu
long barrel with the bare arm. TIL
sounds produced by these Instrument
are supplemented by striking a bit o.
steel upon a stone. When a dance i
in progress a man with the steel anC
stone and two gansa players marcel
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 it..
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.
The Head-Hunting Tribe.
The Bontoc Igorrotes are a strong,
"arlike, head-hunting tribe number-
ing approximately $4,000. They ara
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 nelghboring
tribes by mountain barriers.
They are straightforward 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 a
clout, although this is sometimes re-
placed by 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 lobas
OF their ears, into which they thrust
wooden plugs, bamboo rings and varl-
Gus other objects which they consider
Occasional individuals
wear huge metal pendants in their
ears.
The women use ear ornaments sim
liar to those of the men, and in addi-
lion wear in their hair and about their
lecks more or less elaborate strings
If. beads boar tusks, dog teeth, and
seeds.
When there was occasion to swim
Ir ford streams or to work in the
water in rice fields, both men and
women discarded their garments with.
'ut any apparent hesitation, although
women who had occasion to work long
II the fields usually, but by no meaaq
lWayS, eXJempOriZed skirts Of leaves
The typical house of the Bontoc
gorrote has a grass roof which over.
langs, but does not meet, low board
ideS. There is a storeroom in the
oof. The ground space is divided
etween a sleeping-box ut the end op.
osite the entrance, stall ia which
God is prepared, another stall in
'hich it is cooked and q larger srace
tilted as may be convenient.
The houses are grouped in LARGE
illages which are often readily ac,
essible. The people Of this tribe lie,
ended on large numbers Of fighting
len for protection rather than on IN,
The BontOC IgOuotes were once IN
eterate head-hunters and were for.
lerly constantly at war not only with
tribes, but among them,
elves. Fortunately, hcad-hunting has
ow ceased throughout their territory,
They are very fond of music and
ancing, in which they indulge on all
ossible occasions The only instru-
ents used are gansas, one of which
carried and played by each dancer
iFoughout the performance.
The Bontoc Igorrotes like the Ifu-
los and the Benguet Igorrotes. are
'irit worshiperS. Their religious prac-
ces consist chiefly in efforts to pro-
tiate the antics, or spirits Of the
lad, who are believed to have power
r good and evil.
They are homogeneous, but have
riouS system Of trial marriage. When
ey marry they usually continue to
'e together TO "A ripe old age. Di-
rec is, however, permitted under
rtain circumstances.