﻿112 The Philippine Journal of Science 1914 



Ilocano peasants sprinkle blood on the ground before leveling 

 or clearing ground I do not know positively, but such action 

 would be in line with their practice in canal digging. 



I have heard frequently of Ilocanos burying an animal in 

 the masonry of the canal intakes or gates, but I am not able 

 to vouch for the existence of the practice except in one case 

 in which my information seemed thoroughly reliable. In this 

 case the man who had performed the act was an Ilocano living 

 in San Miguel. He informed me that he had buried a chicken 

 alive in the masonry on first constructing it, but on the gate 

 or intake being destroyed by a flood he had consulted a Tingian 

 as to what he should do. The Tingian recommended that a dog 

 should be buried alive when the gate was reconstructed. This 

 was done, and according to my informant the gate has stood 

 solidly ever since. 



Before taking leave of the subject of irrigation in Ilocos 

 Norte, I wish to mention certain unsatisfactory features. One 

 is the danger of a local boss who initiates a canal-building 

 society or gets control of one already formed claiming the pro- 

 prietorship of the works. This is especially liable to be the case 

 after the lapse of time has eliminated the original constructors. 

 There are several factors which may favor his success in such 

 an attempt. As the chief, he controls the original of the 

 document organizing the society. It is not difficult to cause 

 this paper to disappear in a plausible manner; for example, 

 during one of the typhoons or fires which frequently destroy 

 the flimsy houses of a provincial town. The frequency of 

 destructive fires in the towns of Ilocos Norte during the time 

 covered by the memory of men still living is very striking. Even 

 if the documents were kept at the town hall, the danger would 

 be but little lessened. It would seem that papers of such 

 importance should be kept in the provincial building at the 

 capital, certified copies being furnished to the chiefs of the 

 various societies. 



A point in which improvement is possible lies in the direction 

 of definite provision for an equitable distribution of water. 

 It may be that there are irrigation agreements in Ilocos Norte 

 in which such provision is made. I can only say that I have 

 seen none in the various agreements that I have read, which 

 were chosen at random in different sections of the province. 

 It seems to have been assumed by those who signed these 

 papers that the proposed works would supply sufficient water 

 to all concerned under any circumstances. In point of fact, 

 it happens with great frequency that there is not water enough 



