﻿ix. d, 2 Christie: Irrigation in Ilocos Norte 105 



coercing us; we are expressing our spontaneous desires, and we say the 

 following: 



First. — We all equally agree to choose a chief to give us orders, to the 

 end that there may be order in our work on the said canal. 



Second. — We also agree to choose foremen and designate them as assist- 

 ants to the said superintendent of construction. 



Third. — We agree further that on being given an order by the said 

 chiefs we will not make objections, but will all equally obey the order, 

 and he who disobeys this provision of our agreement shall be given two 

 lashes to punish him for his disobedience, and if he is guilty a second time we 

 will confiscate his share of the property to punish him for his disobedience. 



Fourth. — We agree further that when a day fixed upon for our work 

 arrives and our superintendent sounds his horn to call us. we will hasten 

 to present ourselves and will not wait for a third or fourth blowing of the 

 horn, and that that one of us who shall be the last to arrive shall be fined 

 six cuartos* as a punishment for his lateness, unless he has a reason. 



Fifth. — We agree further that when the work on the said canal is begun 

 no one of us may go away or hide; and he who shall be caught hiding 

 shall be given five lashes to punish him for his disobedience, and his expla- 

 nations shall not be listened to. 



Sixth. — We agree further that after the month of July arrives it shall 

 not be permitted to furnish a woman or a child as a substitute, especially if 

 our work consist in building dams, and he who contravenes this agreement 

 of ours shall be liable to a fine of an eighth of a peso, and his explanations 

 shall not be listened to. 



Seventh. — As soon as our shares of work shall be allotted, whether the 

 work consist in canal digging or fencing, we will make haste to perform 

 the work, without waiting for the assistance of the whole society; and he 

 who disregards this provision of our agreement shall be fined an eighth of 

 a peso for his disobedience. 



Eighth. — We agree also that the obligation of furnishing labor or mate- 

 rials, whether for excavation or for fencing, shall be equally distributed 

 among us. 



Ninth. — We agree further that the cost of fenced ways for the passage 

 of animals, such as, horses, buffaloes, oxen, and pigs, shall be equally distri- 

 buted, and no one shall fail to conform to this rule. 



Tenth. — We agree further that we shall be free to invite outsiders to 

 work with us for half a day or a day, 6 but the superintendent shall not 

 have authority to make contracts without first submitting the matter to us 

 at a meeting. 



* Literally, a man to serve as our father. 



4 About 4 centavos in Philippine currency or 2 cents in United States 

 currency. 



' In Ilocos Norte it is not unusual for country people to assist a neighbor 

 or relative for a short time without money payment, but on the under- 

 standing that they are to be given food and drink. If the work lasts only 

 about half a day, a few drinks of basi are considered sufficient compensa- 

 tion; if the work lasts longer, it is incumbent on the man who has invited 

 the workers to regale them with unusually good food, including a meat or 

 fish element, as well as drink. It is in this way that houses are often built 

 and ditches dug without the expenditure of any cash. 



