The Cordova daily times., 1922-09-07

1 gering the head and by pressing the | long barrel with the bare arm. The sounds produced by these instruments are supplemented by striking a bit of | steel upon stone. When a dance is 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- 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.
 lC 'IibSs
 The Bontoc Igorrotes are strong, warlike, head-hunting tribe number ing approximately 76,OOO. They are almost limited to the very mountain ous region constituting the subprov- ince of Bontoc, but very few are to be found In the subprovince of Kalin- ga. For the most part their territory is separated from that of neighborlng 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 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 confined by jaunty, more or less highly ornamented, rattan cap. Many of them make huge holes Tn the lobes of their ears, into which they thrust wooden plugs, bamboo rings and vari- ous 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 addf- tion wear In their hair and about their necks more or less elaborate strings of beads, boar tusks, dog teeth, and ornamental 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 women who had occasion to work long in the fields usually, but by no means always, extenporized skirts of leaves. The typical house of the Bontoc Igorrote has grass roof which over hangs, but does not meet. low board sides. There is storerOom in the roof. The ground space is divided between a slreping-box at the end op- posite tEe entrance, stall in whict food is prepared another stall ill 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- cessibe. The people of this tribe de pended on large numbers of fighting men for protection rather than on in- accessibility.
 The Bontoc Igorrotes were once in- veterate head-hunters, and were for neighboring tribes, but among them selves Fortunately, hcad-hunting has now ceased throughout their territory.
 They are very fond of music and dancing, in which they indulge on all possible occasions The only instru- ments used are gansas, one of which is carried and played by each dancer throughout the performance.
 The Boptoc Igorrotes, like the lfu- gaos and the Benguet Igorrotes, are spirit worshlpers. Their religious prac- tices consist chiefly in efforts to pro- pitiate the Snitos, or spirits of the dead, who are believed to have power for good and evil.
 They are homogeneous, but have a curious system of trial marriage. When they marry they usually continue to live together to ripe old age. Di- vorce Is, however. permitted under l certain ci.cumSta1ceA.