Evening star., 1924-11-30
ISLAND IS FOUND
RULED BY WOMEN
Philippine Community Gov
: erned by MatriarchaI Sys-
tenn of Other Days.
BY WALTER ROBB.
Core spondence Of The Star and the Chicago
Daily News

False sociological theories. such as
that in society minus conventions
man dominates woman and that
monogamy is not mans (and wom-
an's) Strictest preference, went frit-
tering away in myths in the Philip
pines the other day, when a scientific
expedition from Manila landed upon
Babuyan Claro, one Of the tiny isles
north of huge Luzon, incidentally to
explore the place and more specifical-
ly for the purpose of finding the treas
ure trove supposed to be hidden
away in old Spanish sea chests in
cave since a galleon from Acapulco,
Mexico. with her cargo of silver pesos
and doubloons was wrecked on the
coast 500 years ago.
Island of Snakes.
The cave was found. but not ex-
plored. The vicinity was so thickly
infested with cobras of the king
species that none dared go near the
cave entrance. There are isles like
this in the Philippines known as
snake islands. Snakes are so nu-
lnerous that man never sets foot on
rocks can be seen fairly squirming
with deadly reptiles of both sea and
land varieties.
Elsewhere on Babuyan Claro snakes
do not abound, so the place has
population of some 125 primitive
Malayans, living in the way their
forebears lived centuries ago on the
island of Sumatra, that is to say,
they are living under a riarchy-
Woman is, well. not king. of course,
but queen; man, outnumbered, does
as she says he may.
Only II Men.
OF the 125 persons ~ are men. 80
sre women and 81 children The IA
men are married--to IA women-one
man getting exactly the quota Of
femninity his brother is accorded in
civilized communities. Aside from
these II happy t?) households, the
rest Of the women and their mat
ural" children live IN separate
barrio or village, where they are
governed, as the IA households are,
too, by a spinster 60 years old,
known and respected among all as
MI" or mother Mis- tribal women
are tall, light In color and 1.-THE and
graceful OF figure. They gain their
living by fishing and cultivating rice
finding vegetable food enough in the
Wild jungle of the mountains. Their
men folk resemble the japanese in
appearance, but the women are of a
more comely physical appearance and
many are beautiful, even as beauty
is estimated by the Caucasian eye.
Man Is Premier.
One OF the men is premier and
high priest In Ms realm. Strangely
enough. he is an interloper from the
mainland Of LuZon. A mechanic by
trade and a very ingenious and fear
less spirit, when he got into a bolo
fracas at the motor shops, where he
was employed on the mainland. he
attended to vengeance and then took
to sea In a dugout. Storms drove
him to the coast of Babuyan Claro.
But. of course. he was treated only
TO kindness, typical Malayan hospi-
taltty to the stranger, SO he stayed
on and has been there seven years,
during which time he has risen to
his present position, second only to
that of M" herself
He performs Ms orders, issuing
edicts of state. confirming marriages,
baptizing children and generally
making himself useful in state
which seems to be a thorough blend
ing Of church and secular authority
Naturally enough. besides the nat
ural inhabitants of such d drear is
land, there are numerous unnatural
ones--the' spirits, good and evil. that
iphabit the air and govern the for
tunes or tne numDie SUBJECTS OF Nj.
Such spirits, in the folklore legends
at least. guard the entrance to the
cave where the treasure trove is hid
den. 1t is evil spirits, not cobras
that Kill persons approaching the
cave, according to the simple faith of
the island. The "haunts" that abound
everywhere must frequently be ap-
peaSed with sacrifices of roast wild
boar. So there are many hunting ex-
petitions. plantiful game bagged,
barbecues and midnight religious or
gies accompanied by the tribal dane
ing Of virgins. The mechanic-pre-
nierprelate has made many musical
instruments for use on these solemn
occasions of gayety. or pleasant para
doxes in other Somber lives, and he
has taught boys and girls to play
them.
OF late, the modern dances have.
crept into the ritual-the Chicago"
have equal powers with the older
measures when 1t comes to exciting
the hearts of Ms young bellies and
beaux and driving witches away
through the jungle moonlight and
back into their tabled sanctuaries.
There they are never mole sted, no
moro than If they were in the low
lands and hidden in a Balete tree. II
one must really pass by, he bows his
head politely and asks permission.
MIS- laws regard the mysterious. the
occult and the unseen. They are the
laws of a woman.
Copyright, 1924, by Chicago Daily News CO..