THE BENGUET IGOROTS. 415 



the surrounding mountains at an altitude of 2^000 meters above sea level, 

 and its precipitous sides furnish an almost impassible barrier against 

 attack. The inhabitants of this region were the last of the Benguet 

 Igorots to come under the jurisdiction of the United States of America, 

 and it was only by superior force of arms that they finally submitted. 

 They live on their rocky fortress, work the paddy fields of the valleys 

 below, and return to their stronghold at night. They are a self-reliant 

 and progressive people, with sound judgment and wise deliberation in 

 their councils. The administration of their affairs is in their own hands 

 under the guidance of the governor of the province. Their chief haknon 

 (old man) has already roofed his house with galvanized iron for pro- 

 tection from the tremendous downpours of rain which are so frequent 

 in this region, and others are following his examj)le. 



Men and women are on practically an equal footing. The men work 

 away from home for means to provide food, shelter, and draft animals 

 (for working the paddy fields), and when at home the men care for 

 the children. The women work at home raising the small crops {ca- 

 motes, coffee, etc.), prepare the food, and assist the men in the transporta- 

 tion of surplus products to distant markets over steep mountain trails, 

 acting with the men as common carriers. The women also have a voice 

 in the councils and often exercise a controlling influence. The life of 

 the Igorots is an existence of ideal sexual equality in many respects, and 

 civilized nations might profit by their example, for they impressed me as 

 a remarkably contented and cheerful people. 



However, the purpose of this article is not to j^i'esent the moral 

 qualities, but the physical characters of the Igorots. Observations and 

 measurements were made of 104 adult males (16-|- years), 10 adult 

 females, and 30 boys between the 'ages of 5 and 15 years inclusive. I 

 also measured a number of Japanese, Chinese, Uocanos, and Tagalogs, 

 but these data will be reserved to be presented in later papers on the 

 various Filipino peoples. Four groups will be considered in detail with 

 each observation or measurement. The nativity of the four groups is : 

 Lepanto-Bontoc [15], mountains of western Benguet [To], the Agno 

 Eiver valley [30], and Baguio and vicinity [37]. Fourteen of the Le- 

 panto-Bontoc Igorots are adult males, and 1 is a boy. Forty-six of the 

 mountain Igorots are adult males, 10 are adult females, and the re- 

 mainder are boys. Twenty-two from the valleys and 23 from Baguio 

 and vicinity are adult males, the remainder boys. (Table I.) 



METHODS EMPLOYED. 



The body parts are measured from the ground up by means of a 

 graduated vertical rod with a sliding horizontal pointer. Other meas- 

 urements are made with sliding calipers {compass d'appaisseur-Colin) . 

 Lead electric fuse wire is used in taking head outlines, a hinged brass 

 bar is employed to measure the facial index, and general descriptions 



