244 The Tinguian 



obtained, despite extensive missions, and that although he had made 

 extraordinary efforts, he had even failed to learn their number. 



In the mountains of Ilocos Sur, the missionaries met with somewhat 

 better success, and in 1704 Olarte states that in the two preceding 

 years one hundred and fifty-six "infidel Tinguianes" had been con- 

 verted and baptized. Again, in 1760, four hundred and fifty-four 

 converts are reported to have been formed into the villages of San- 

 tiago, Magsingal, and Batak. 1 About this time the work in Abra also 

 took on a more favorable aspect; by 1753 three Tinguian villages, 

 with a combined population of more than one thousand, had been 

 established near Bangued, and in the next century five more settle- 

 ments were added to this list. 2 



In general the relations between the pagan and Christianized na- 

 tives were not cordial, and oftentimes they were openly hostile ; but 

 despite mutual distrust the coast people have on several occasions en- 

 listed the aid of the mountaineers against outside enemies. In 1660 

 a serious revolt occurred in Pangasinan and Zambales, and the rebels, 

 after gaining control of these provinces, started on a looting expedition 

 in the northern districts. In the face of strong resistance they pro- 

 ceeded as far north as Badok, in Ilocos Sur, burning and pillaging 

 many villages including the capital city of Vigan (Fernandino). The 

 Tinguian came to the aid of the hard-pressed Ilocano, and their com- 

 bined forces fell upon the enemy just outside the village of Narbacan. 

 The tribesmen had previously made the road almost impassable by 

 planting it thickly with sharpened sticks ; and, while the invaders were 

 endeavoring to remove these obstacles, they set upon them with great 

 fury and, it is said, succeeded in killing more than four hundred of the 

 Zambal, a part of whom they beheaded. 3 



As Spanish rule was extended into the Tinguian territory, Ilocano 

 settlers pressed in and acquired holdings of land. This led to many 

 bitter disputes which were consistently settled in favor of the con- 

 verts ; but at the same time many inducements were offered the pagans 

 to get them into the Christianized village. All converts were to be 

 exempted from paying tribute, while their villages received many 

 favors withheld from the pagan settlements. This failing to bring 



1 Antonio Mozo, Noticia historico-natural (Madrid, 1763), in Blair and 

 Robertson, Vol. XLVIII, p. 69. 



2 These were: Tayum 1803; Pidigan 1823; La Paz and San Gregorio 1832; 

 Bukay (Labon) 1847. For further details of this mission see Villacorta, 

 Breve resumen de los progresos de la Religion Catolica en la admirable conver- 

 sion de los indios Igorotes y Tinguianes (Madrid, 1831). 



s Blair and Robertson, op. cit., Vol. XXXVIII, p. 199. 



