THE ILONGOT OR IBILAO OF LUZON 525 



Tribes, and engaged in a preliminary reconnaissance of tlie pagan 

 peoples of northern Luzon, made a trip with a small party to one of 

 their communities in the mountains east of Bambang. Photographs, 

 measurements and notes on their language and social institutions were 

 made. In January, 1906, Mr. Dean C. Worcester, secretary of the 

 interior, approached these people from the north, by ascending the 

 Kagayan river. His party started from a station of the Tabacalera 

 Company, south of Echague, and from there rode through fine forest to 

 a " sitio " called Masaysayasaya. From here they " started at dawn 

 and about noon passed the ' dead line ' set by the Ilongotes. A little 

 before sundown reached Dumabato, an Ilongote and Negrito settlement, 

 which had been the headquarters of Sibley, 3 the deserter. Here were 

 found a few filthy Ilongotes and some fine Negritos." 



In the spring of 1908, Dr. William Jones, of the Field Columbian 

 Museum, began a residence among the Ilongot of the upper Kagayan 

 and lived with them continuously until nearly a year had passed, when 

 he was killed by them. His notes and specimens were fortunately pre- 

 served and, when published, should constitute the most original and 

 important contribution ever made to Philippine ethnology. Dr. Jones 

 was part American Indian, a member of the Sac and Fox tribe. He 

 was not only a brilliant scientist, but one of the most engaging and 

 interesting men I have ever known — a man to cleave to. Here are brief 

 extracts from two letters written by him from the Ibilao country, val- 

 uable, I think, not only for the information they contain about this 

 people, but for the light they throw upon him and his manner of work. 



May 26, 1908. I am at present among the Ilongotes of the Cagayan, where 

 I am having the most enjoyable time since my arrival in the islands. These 

 people are wilder than the Igorrotes. We made friends at the beginning and 

 the friendship has grown wider and stronger every succeeding day. I have a 

 shack high up on poles where I dwell with great comfort. And plenty of food 

 is to be had always; wild hog and venison in the jungle on either side of the 

 river; lurong and liesas in the river; wild honey back on the mountain side; 

 bananas, beans, camote and other things from the cultivated patches, and rice 

 which has been saved from last season. For the last fortnight the people have 

 been clearing in the jungle for sementeras. 4 I wish you might hear the sweet 

 melody of the songs of boys and women at work in the clearings, songs sung 

 to the spirits of the trees and for good crops. Ilongot society is much simpler 

 than that of the Igorote; there is little if any of what may be called village life. 

 There is a house here, another yonder and so on here and there along the river. 

 Places near the river are reached by going on balsas 5 and away from the river 

 the trails are dim and indistinct. I do not know where I shall end up. I am 

 heading up-stream. It may be that I shall find myself going west and south- 

 west into the country of the Ilongotes, who are enemies of the ones I am now 



3 Sibley was an American soldier from the 16th Infantry who deserted in 

 1900, and lived for over four years, a renegade among these people. He finally 

 surrendered to Governor Curry, of Isabela province. 



4 Fields for seeding. 



5 Cane rafts. 



