V.] THE OCEANIC NEGROES : NEGRITOES. 1 67 



A physical peculiarity of the full-blood Negritoes, noticed by 

 Dr J. Montano 1 , is the large, clumsy foot, turned slightly inwards, 

 a trait characteristic also of the African Negritoes ; but in the 

 Aeta the effect is exaggerated by the abnormal divergence of the 

 great toe, as amongst the Annamese. 



The main feature of their character, says this observer, is a 

 deep, inextinguishable love of freedom and personal 

 independence. They are happy only in the midst 

 of their upland forests ; they neither keep slaves 

 themselves, nor endure the yoke of servitude, or even of domestic 

 service, and are in fact as untameable as wild beasts. In Luzon 

 all attempts to bring up their children at the stations have failed, 

 no matter at what age they may have been captured. The case is 

 mentioned of a young Negrito brought to Madrid, educated, and 

 ordained priest, who on his return to the Philippines immediately 

 escaped to the mountains. 



But their social state varies greatly according as they are more 

 or less exposed to the attacks of the surrounding populations. 

 Under certain influences they may even to some extent give 

 up the nomad life, form settlements in the forest glades, build 

 permanent abodes and raise crops of rice or maize, varying this 

 quiet existence, however, with occasional hunting excursions, when 

 the game is captured with snares and the bow and arrow, their 

 chief weapon. They have also developed a barter trade with their 

 neighbours, exchanging edible roots and medicinal plants, said 

 to be of extraordinary efficacy, for tobacco, textiles, and scraps 

 of iron with which to tip their darts. 



The social system even amongst the pure nomads is much 

 better developed than has been supposed, and is 



, , - The Family 



based on the family and personal property. To everywhere 

 the tribal chief, elected for life, but not hereditary, un it S cial 

 are referred all disputes, and he also punishes 

 misdeeds in accordance with traditional usage. The Aetas are 

 strict monogamists, and do not appear to be quite destitute of 

 religious notions, as is commonly asserted, judging at least from 

 certain allegorical dances, as amongst the Pueblo Indians, and 



1 Voyage aux Philippines, &c., Paris, 1886. 



