Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-05-03

TIE decision % the Igorr0tes. one 81
the few Philippine tribes which may
nov Be called barbar0us. no longer 20
at DOGS. emphasizes the march Of civ
niEation ln the out-Of-the-way portions
~ the Islands. and gives promise that
soon Il will be dlficult 70 ind the
primitive customs that a decade ago
marked some q the Islands inhabl-
fautS
There are perhaps 10000 q the
various IgornUtos-thcse % Benguet.
Iepanto. Amhuraynn and Bontoc. only
the latter have been head-hunters In
Feceut decades The IEorrotes are a
rufust and vigorous people. Both men
and women are. as a rule. short. heav-
Ey built and strongly muscled. with
bread. spreading feet. Their hair is
perfectly straight Many ~ them have
large and beautiful eyes. As a rule
the men wear their hair short. al
though some individuals. especially In
Lepanto. allow Il 90 grow % a cunsid-
cradle length.
A few years aro the usual dress 81
the men was the clout. supplemented.
when the means ~ the individual per
mittcd. with a cotton blanket. They
were. however glad % wear flannel
shirts and coats % khaki 81 blue army
Goth when ObtaInabie. They also
tnuk early ana kindly q hats Indeed.
many - them wore hats ~ their own
make.
10 view ~ the sranty costume of the
men. e was a surprising fact that the
wctnen were ordinarily careful 90 keep
their bodies fully covered. although
when working about the house weed
tnE rice fields or washing clothes. they
frequently omitted upper garments.
Wealthy women. even in the early
DAYS % American control. often wore
several superimposed skirts and near
~ az bound towels about their heads.
Neither sex has any very elaborate
ornuments. some 81 the men ad0rn
themselves with large bands ~ beads
og wire and with ear ornaments II
brass 90 silver. They often tattoo the
hacss - their hands.
IN Benguet a number 81 wealthy
Euuen possess beaten plates ~ thin
geld. which they wear between their
nps and front teeth GA special occa-
sioaS. thus completely closing their
mouths. Doubtless many American
men would rejoice II ornaments ~ this
character were q become fashionable
IN the United States. When they are
wcTu the male sex mon0polizes the
eunversatiOn.
Are Industrious A7riculturists-
The Igorrotes are now peaceful. In
6usfrfuus a-ricuiturisis. They live
chiefly On vans. but raise some taro
and considerable Quantities II rice.
much ~ which Is grown on terraces
The most wonderful ~ these ter
races are constructed by the Bonioc
Igorrotes. Irish potatoes and coffee.
fntroduced years ago by the Span
farfs. are raised Tor sale. Pigs and
chickens are kept In considerable num-
herS. but are. as a rule. eaten only on
ceremonial occasions. Dogs have
hecn 3 highly appreciated article Of
diet and were brought In large num-
herx % Baguio from the l0wlands for
ale. On sunday mornings the Baguio
dcg market presented a unique spec
tacie
Tie Beuguet IEorrotes raise good
hcrSes % considerable numbers. and
beth men and women ride with SKIN.
stHering absolutely In this respect
frsm the Ifugaos. Bontoc igorrotes
and Kalingas. who neither keep horses
ncr Know how q use them.
In the vicinity q Kabayan the Ben
Euet IgOvrOtes build good houses.
which have fioOrs and sides II boards
and are even possessed % windows.
while near Bagui0 and Ceramics a
number u individuals have construct
Cd upt0-dats dwellings with galya-
nired iron roofs. furnished with chairs.
tables. beds and American stoves.
TIE houses are usually grouped In
small villages. but sometimes stand
slngiy In very isolated places
TIE Benguet and Lepanto IgorrOses
have mined gold for centuries and are
the only native miners IN the Philip
riEc<. Ancient gold ornaments Of I'M
known oriEin are Sfill % he found
mmenE them
Ike the ether tribes o. northern Lu-
Enn. they are q music-loving people.
They sine very pleasantly and some
ftrcs use bamboo flutes O. accompany
xccal music. Their dance music Is pro-
cucei ~ Eansas and iong-harreied
ws-sden drums with SKIN heads. TIE
ra1s q such . drum Is varied by IN