VI. SOCIAL ORGANIZATION. GOVERNMENT. 

 THE VILLAGE 



The village is the social unit within which there are no clans, no 

 political, or other divisions. The Tinguian are familiar with the Igorot 

 town, made up of several ato, 1 but there is no indication that they 

 have ever had such an institution. 



The head of the village is known as lakay. He is usually a man 

 past middle age whose wealth and superior knowledge have given him 

 the confidence of his people. He is chosen by the older men of the 

 village, and holds his position for life unless he is removed for cause. 

 It is possible that, at his death, his son may succeed him, but this is 

 by no means certain. 



The lakay is supposed to be well versed in the customs of the 

 ancestors, and all matters of dispute or questions of policy are brought 

 to him. If the case is one of special importance he will summon the 

 other old men, who will deliberate and decide the question at issue. 

 They have no means of enforcing their decisions other than the force 

 of public opinion, but since an offender is ostracised, until he has met 

 the conditions imposed by the elders, their authority is actually very 

 great. Should a lakay deal unjustly with the people, or attempt to alter 

 long established customs, he would be removed from office and another 

 be selected in his stead. No salary or fees are connected with this 

 office, the holder receiving his reward solely through the esteem in 

 which he is held by his people. 



In former times two or three villages would occasionally unite to 

 form a loose union, the better to resist a powerful enemy, but with 

 the coming of more peaceful times such beginnings of confederacies 

 have vanished. During the Spanish regime attempts were made to 

 organize the pagan communities and to give titles to their officers, 

 but these efforts met with little success. Under American rule local 

 self government, accompanied by several elective offices, has been 

 established in many towns. The contest for office and government 

 recognition of the officials is tending to break down the old system 

 and to concentrate the power in the presidente or mayor. 



It is probable that the early Tinguian settlement consisted of one 



1 Each with its dormitory for bachelors, and usually for unmarried girls. 

 See Jenks, The Bontoc Igorot, p. 49 (Manila, 1905). 



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