20 Traditions of the Tinguian 



Comparison of the Reconstructed Culture with Present 

 Day Conditions — Before passing to a consideration of the tales in the 

 last two divisions of our material, it may be well to compare the life and 

 beliefs of these "people of the first times" with those of the living Tin- 

 guian Kadalayapan and Kaodanan appear, in a vague way, to have 

 been located in Abra, for we learn that the Ilocano, Don Carlos, went up 

 the river from Baygan (Vigan) ■ to Kadalayapan; that the alzados lived 

 near by, while the tattooed Igorot occupied the land to the south (pp. 

 5 ) The villages were surrounded by defensive walls such as were 

 to be found about all Tinguian villages until recent times, and which 

 are still to be seen about Abang and other settlements. Within the 

 walls were many houses, the descriptions of most of which would fit the 

 dwellings of to day. The one thing which seems foreign to present 

 conditions is the so-called "ninth room" which receives rather frequent 

 mention. There is nothing in the tales referring to buildings or house 

 construction which lends support to the contention of those who seek to 

 class the Tinguian as a modified sub-gr.up of Igorot. The Bontoc 

 type of dwelling with its ground floor sleeping box and its elevated one 

 room kitchen and storage room is nowhere mentioned, neither is there 

 any indication that in past or present times the Tinguian had separate 

 sleeping houses for the unmarried men and boys, and for the girls, as do 

 their neighbors to the south. 



The other structures, such as the spirit houses, nee drying frames, 

 and granaries were similar to those seen to-day in all the villages. Like- 

 wise the house furnishings, the musical instruments, and even the games 

 of the children were such as are to be found at present, while our picture 

 of the village life given on page 9 still fits nearly any Tinguian settle- 

 ment in Abra. The animals mentioned are all familiar to the present 

 people, but it is worthy of note that in the first twenty-six tales, which 

 make up the cycle proper, the horse is not mentioned, nor does the cara, 

 bao appear to be used as a work animal. Still more important is the fact 

 'that the terraced fields and the rice culture accompanying them, which 

 to-day occupy a predominant place in the economic life of the people, 

 are nowhere mentioned. On the other hand, the langpddan, or mountain 

 rice, assumes a place of great importance. References to the cultivation 

 of the land all seem to indicate that the "hoe culture,' which is still 

 practiced to a limited extent, took the place of agriculture. 



The clothing, hair dressing, and ornaments, worn by these people, 

 agree closely with th ose of to-day. Beads seems to have been of prime 



1 The present capital of Ilocos Sur. 



» bTrrows, Census of the Philippine Islands, Vol. I, pp. 456 ff., 1903. 



