22 - 4 Scheerer: Alexander Schadenberg 451 



1889, just at a time when the relations between these and the 

 Christian lowlanders were at their worst. Though habitually 

 averse to any display of force, he had to consent, in this instance, 

 to his Ilokano carriers arming themselves ; still, after reaching 

 the settlements around the present township of Bayag, in north- 

 ern Apayao, it was not hostility on the part of the Apayaos, but 

 much fever among his carriers that compelled him to desist from 

 his plan to reach Malaueg in Cagayan, and return by way of 

 the Saltan and Abra. He had, however, the satisfaction of being 

 able to induce five of his newly won Apayao friends to come 

 down with him to Dingras, in Ilocos Norte, where their presence 

 caused considerable sensation. Mounted messengers having 

 carried the news to the provincial governor, Don Manuel Sastron, 

 in Laoag, this functionary availed himself of the opportunity 

 to improve the existing trade relations with the mountaineers. 

 These had consisted in a peculiar system of barter, according 

 to which the Apayaos deposited their chief product, tobacco, 

 at certain neutral spots and then retired, after having given 

 advice to the "cristianos" by signs and shouts. The latter came 

 up and deposited at the side of the tobacco bundles the estimated 

 equivalent in native fabrics, wire, iron, and beads, and then 

 retired in their turn, whereupon the Apayaos came forward 

 again to inspect the articles thus offered in exchange. If these 

 were found suitable, they took them up and left the tobacco in 

 their place; if found insufficient, they took away part of the 

 tobacco and left only the quantity considered a fair return for 

 the Ilokano goods, waiting thereafter in retirement to see if the 

 Ilokanos signified their agreement. This crude type of barter 

 at a safe distance Sastron sought to improve by giving to Scha- 

 denberg's companions official documents authorizing them to 

 trade freely and directly with the Christian towns and promis- 

 ing every support and protection. 



In 1890 Schadenberg paid a short visit to his native country, 

 returning with his family to the Philippines in the spring of 

 1891. The old firm of Pablo Sartorius, which had been changed 

 to that of Boie and Siegert, now became Boie and Schadenberg. 

 The latter was henceforth obliged to reside in Manila and, on 

 resuming his trips into the provinces whenever he could find 

 the time, he was warned against the danger to his health arising 

 from his known propensity to fevers, especially those of the 

 malarial type. Notwithstanding this, he soon developed an 

 irresistible desire to find out more than was known at that time 

 about the interior of Mindoro Island, in easy reach from Manila; 



