90 BULLETIN 137^ UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



practice by the Ifugao, Bontok, Kalinga, and other pagan tribes of 

 the mountainous interior of northern central Luzon. To bring this 

 about, drastic action on the part of the constabulary was often neces- 

 sary. This does not imply, however, that head-hunting is completely 

 stamped out. The force of peaceful example by those who have 

 discontinued the practice is probably quite as effective as is armed 

 force. 



Two great civilized peoples, the Tagalog of central Luzon and the 

 Visayas of Cebu, Leyte, Negros, Panay, etc., had discontinued tak- 

 ing heads of their own accord at the time of the arrival of th.e Span- 

 ish. The same applied to the Mohammedan tribes, likewise the Min- 

 danao pagan Bagobo, Manobo, Mandayan tribes ; also to the Negri- 

 tos of western Luzon. Among some the cutting off of the ears of 

 their fallen foes sufficed. Sometimes the hair was clipped to pro- 

 vide tassel ornaments for belts and scabbards. Count was kept of 

 the number of enemies killed. The courage of the warrior and the 

 skill with which he wielded his weapons always aroused the respect 

 and esteem of the individual in the group. It is true that every man 

 intended to pay his debts, including such debts of honor as avenging 

 a violent death suffered by one of his family or group. If he paid 

 the " debt of life " with interest and exceeded the balance, additional 

 reprisals were called for and the feud did not stop. 



It is at this point that mercenary interests enter, and wherever a 

 headman's authority is recognized " blood mone}^ " is acceptable. At 

 first money w^as proffered and accepted only where no intent to com- 

 mit injury was present. As such the wrong was compoundable. 

 When the institution of '' blood money " gained entry within a group 

 ieucls became subject to money settlement. As the chief received a 

 portion of the sum for his share, his influence was all toward the 

 suppression of blood feuds. The fact that he was able to suppress 

 such difficulties between neighboring tribal groups increased his 

 influence. 



The pagan tribes of the southern islands had developed the prac- 

 tice of human sacrifice, while the northern primitive tribes con- 

 tinued to take blood vengeance through head-hunting. The Visaj'an 

 islanders leaned toward the former j^ractice, while Mohammedan in- 

 fluence tended to discontinue both practices among its devotees. 



The pagan tribes of the Mountain Province of northern Luzon 

 formerly made of head-hunting a rite. This ceremonial religious 

 observance has to a great extent been suppressed by the Philippine 

 Constabulary. Tribal warfare has likewise become a thing of the 

 l^ast. Trophies of battle consisting of the skulls of the slain enemies 

 formerly ornamented the walls of the house of the warrior. The 

 severed heads of slain enemies were stuck by returning expeditions 



