page_title: Igorot people
section_title: Bontoc
hierarchical_section_title: Igorot people / Cordillera ethnic groups / Bontoc
caption_attribution_description: English: "BONTOC HOUSES" Identifier: universityofcali15univ (find matches) Title: University of California publications in American archaeology and ethnology Year: 1903 (1900s) Authors: University of California (1868-1952) University of California (1868-1952) Publications in American archaeology and ethnology Subjects: Indians Indians of North America Publisher: Berkeley University of California Press Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto View Book Page: Book Viewer About This Book: Catalog Entry View All Images: All Images From Book Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book. Text Appearing Before Image: PLATE 9 The room proper of the Bontoc house is above the level of the eaves. It rests on piles. It is used only as a granary and storeroom. Beneath this room and protected from the inclemency of the weather by two or three planks one each side the family cooks and eats. At one corner of this space beneath the house proper is a tight box in which husband, wife, and baby, if there be one, sleep. The other children sleep in the dormitories of the unmarried. Note the sweet-potato patches all about the house. Sharpened reeds are stuck up in these to impale the serpent eagle should he swoop down upon the chickens. (144) Text Appearing After Image: PLATE 10 Note the red flowers above the mans ears, the feathers in his hair, and thegong which is held by a jawbone taken from an enemys head. The womansear-ornaments and the spangles on her skirt are mother-of-pearl. Around herwrists are wrapped strand upon strand of beads. The Kalingas are the wealthiestof the mountain tribes and the fondest of ornaments. (146) UNIV, CALIF. PUBL. AM. ARCH. &amp; ETHN. VOL. 15 (BARTON) PLATE 10 Note About Images Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original work.
context_page_description: The Igorot are any of various ethnic groups in the mountains of northern Luzon, Philippines, all of whom keep, or have kept until recently, their traditional religion and way of life. Some live in the tropical forests of the foothills, but most live in rugged grassland and pine forest zones higher up. The Igorot numbered about 1.5 million in the early 21st century. Their languages belong to the northern Luzon subgroup of the Philippine languages, which belong to the Austronesian family.
context_section_description: The Bontoc live on the banks of the Chico River in the Central Mountain Province on the island of Luzon. They speak Bontoc and Ilocano. They formerly practiced head-hunting and had distinctive body tattoos. The Bontoc describe three types of tattoos: The chak-lag′, the tattooed chest of the head taker; pong′-o, the tattooed arms of men and women; and fa′-tĕk, for all other tattoos of both sexes. Women were tattooed on the arms only.
  In the past, the Bontoc engaged in none of the usual pastimes or games of chance practiced in other areas of the country, but did perform a circular rhythmic dance acting out certain aspects of the hunt, always accompanied by the gang′-sa or bronze gong. There was no singing or talking during the dance drama, but the women took part, usually outside the circumference. It was a serious but pleasurable event for all concerned, including the children. Present-day Bontocs are a peaceful agricultural people who have, by choice, retained most of their traditional culture despite frequent contacts with other groups.
  The pre-Christian Bontoc belief system centers on a hierarchy of spirits, the highest being a supreme deity called Intutungcho, whose son, Lumawig, descended from the sky (chayya), to marry a Bontoc girl. Lumawig taught the Bontoc their arts and skills, including irrigation of their land. The Bontoc also believe in the anito, spirits of the dead, who are omnipresent and must be constantly consoled.  Anyone can invoke the anito, but a seer (insup-ok) intercedes when someone is sick through evil spirits.
  The Bontoc social structure used to be centered around village wards (ato) containing about 14 to 50 homes. Traditionally, young men and women lived in dormitories and ate meals with their families. This gradually changed with the advent of Christianity. In general, however, it can be said that all Bontocs are very aware of their own way of life and are not overly eager to change.
caption: A traditional Bontoc house, 1903.Bale house of Igorot people with its skeletal displays.
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