The Inhabitants of the PhilippinesSawyer, Frederic H.
History
The Inhabitants of the Philippines
Sawyer, Frederic H.
Ethnology -- Philippines; Philippines -- Social life and customs
This man makes some pretence at healing the sick, but rather
with charms and incantations than by administering medicine. There
is a sacred tree near each village, which is regarded as the seat of
the Anitos. In the shade of this is a sacrificial stone. Sometimes
near a house may been seen a small bench for the Anitos to repose on,
and a dish of rice or other food for their refreshment. The Igorrotes
believe that there are two places where the souls of the dead travel
to. One is an agreeable residence provided with everything necessary
to happiness, and is for the spirits of those who have died a natural
death. But if they have been evil-doers, such as robbers or murderers,
and have escaped due punishment on earth, they are punished here by
the other souls before being allowed to enjoy the advantages of the
place. But the souls of brave warriors killed in battle, and of women
who have died in child-birth, arrive at a much more desirable place,
a real heaven, and reside amongst the gods.
The Igorrotes of Cabugalan in Lepanto regard eels as the embodiment
of their ancestors; they will not catch them or do them any harm,
but feed them when opportunity offers. The Asiteras assist at feasts
and make invocations and propose toasts which are drunk by the men
present. The private or family feasts are called Bumaguil, being
held in the giver's house or courtyard, but public entertainments or
feasts of the whole village are called Regnas, and are held in or in
front of the Balta-oa or Town Hall. They are preceded and followed
by songs and dances. The songs are inharmonious and monotonous. The
dances vary with the localities. In one dance bowing to the beer-mugs
is a feature. As amongst other Malay races, ordeals are in fashion
to decide disputes. One consists in a priest or chief scratching the
scalps of the disputants with a small iron fork. Whoever loses most
blood during this operation has lost his case. The Igorrotes work
hard at their agriculture, and their rice-farming is excellent. They
plough the valleys with the aid of buffaloes and terrace the hillsides,
which they cultivate by hand. They burn down the pine-forests to clear
the hills. They irrigate where possible, carrying the canals over any
ravine by means of rude aqueducts. They grow considerable quantities
of tobacco, [28] which is, however, of inferior quality. This they
sell to the civilised natives, and it is exported. I suppose it goes
to Hamburg to make German Havana cigars, just as conger eels go to
Paris to make fillets of soles. They cultivate sweet potatoes, also
the ordinary potatoes, which grow well, and although small, are much
prized in Manila, and meet with a ready sale. The Igorrotes of Lepanto
eagerly seek new seeds to plant. It is strange that an agricultural
people like this should have little or no idea of breeding cattle, but
instead of doing so, they purchase from the Ilocanos and others cattle,
horses, and pigs for consumption, paying good prices for them. They
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