The Inhabitants of the Philippines Part 39

Igorrote del Abra. Five villages of Bontoc.

Igorrote de la Gran Cordillera. By the reduced Igorrotes and the independent tribes of the Caraballo.

Igorrote Suflin. In fifteen villages of that Cordillera.

Many of the Princ.i.p.ales or head-men and others under Spanish influence speak and write Ilocano, which they find necessary for their trade with that people. More than twenty years ago there were seven schools in Lepanto regularly attended by five hundred and sixty-two children, of whom one hundred and ten could then read and write Spanish. No doubt by this time these schools have considerably increased.

I am much impressed by the great industry of these people and with the great skill they show in everything they undertake. It is therefore disappointing to read in Foreman's book 'The Philippine Islands,'

p. 213: "Like all the races of the Philippines, they are indolent to the greatest degree." Foreman goes on to say, Polygamy seems to be permitted, murders are common, their huts are built bee-hive fashion, they keep a Dr. and Cr. account of heads with the Negritos. All this is probably in consequence of accepting idle stories as facts, and is nothing less than a libel on the Igorrotes. A people who believe in a Supreme Being, Creator of heaven and earth, in the immortality of the soul, in an upper and lower heaven, in punishment after death, if it has been evaded in life, who are strict monogamists, and who have a high belief in the sacredness of the marriage tie; a people who guard the chast.i.ty of their daughters as carefully as the British or the Americans; a people physically strong, brave, skilful, and industrious, have nothing in common with the wretches Foreman described under their name. These people live in the fairest and healthiest parts of Luzon, no fevers lurk amongst those pine-clad mountains, no sultry heats sap the vital powers. What an opportunity for a grand missionary enterprise! What a n.o.ble material to work on, every condition seems favourable. The very fact of their rejection of the form of Christianity presented to them, and their distrust of the Spaniards, may influence them in favour of some simpler doctrine. I shall feel well repaid for my labour in describing these people, if the truthful picture I have attempted to present of them should interest those who have the means and the will to inaugurate a new era, to help them along the Path. A perusal of what the old chroniclers say about them convinces me that they have done much themselves to improve their moral condition, and that many detestable customs, at all events attributed to them, have long since been relegated to oblivion.

I now give a list of the Missions in the Igorrote and Tinguian territory that existed in 1892.

Missions in Tinguian and Igorrote Territory.

1892.

Province. Town. Population. Missionaries.

Rev. Father--

Abra Pidigan. 2,418 P. Ornia.

Bucay. 3,688 J. Lopez.

La Paz y San Gregorio. 2,802 P. Fernandez.

Villavieja. 1,912 M. Fonturbel.

Bangued. 8,702 A. Perez.

Tayum. 3,064 L. Vega.

Dolores. 2,522 F. Franco.

Lepanto Cervantes y Cayan. 2,200 A. Oyanguren.

Benguet La Trinidad y Galiano. 849 J. Garcia.

R. Rivera.

-------- 28,157

All the inhabitants of these towns and villages are Christians, and either they or their ancestors were baptised by missionaries of the Augustinian order.

Some Manufactures of the Igorrotes.

Weapons.

Native Name.

Say-ang Lance, for war or for killing deer.

Talibon Short double-edged sword.

Ligua, or Aligua Axe used for decapitating the fallen enemy.

Calasag or Calata Long narrow wooden shields.

Bunneng Wood knife.

Sayac or Dayac Sharp bamboo spikes to be set in the paths.

Bows and arrows (the Igorrotes possess these, but are not skilful archers).

Clubs.

Gay-ang Javelins (favourite weapons of Igorrotes).

Accoutrements.

Alpilan or Sacupit Knapsacks.

Lagpi. Haversacks.

Saddles.

Bridles.

Rangan Saddle-bags.

Baot Whips.

Upit Pouch for medicine and antidote for snake bite.

Sac-dey Uniform or war jackets.

Bariques Chief's sword belt.

Balques Ancient sword belts used by their ancestors are preserved as heirlooms in the family.

Clothing.

Tacoco Hat made of rattan for head-men.

,, for married men.

Suebong ,, ,, bachelors, woven from cane.

,, ,, women.

Sachong ,, ,, chiefs.

Calogon or catlocon ,, made of rattan and cane used by Christian Igorrotes.

Sarquet or Barguet Headcloth used by head-men.

Loc-bo Caps.

Olei or Ulas Cloaks or plaids.

Cobal Loin-cloth of bark or cotton.

Baag or Bahaque Ap.r.o.ns.

Palingay ,, for women.

Atten Skirts used by head-men's wives or daughters.

Tachun Waterproof hoods to cover the head and the load carried on the back, e.g., to keep tobacco dry in transit.

An-nanga Waterproof capes of Anajas leaves.

Sandals.

Clogs.

Ampaya, Samit Tapis, cloth worn by women round the hips.

Barique or canes Sashes.

Baquet Woman's belt to hold up the tapis.

Bado Woman's shirt.

Shirts made of the bark of the pacag.

Ornaments.

Chacang A gold plate used by head-men or chiefs to cover their teeth at feasts or when they present themselves to Europeans of distinction.

Balangat A coronet of rattan.

Aponque Collar or necklace.

Apongont A coronet of scented wood (candaroma).

Ono Necklace of reeds and coloured seeds.

Bariques ,, vertebrae of snakes.

Siquel Necklace made of seed of climbing plant called Bugayon.

,, ,, white stones.