534 W. D. SMITH GEOLOGIC INFLUENCES IN THE PHILIPPINES 



existed until recently between the peoples of different towns was due 

 almost solely to the lack of contact, and the latter is to be attributed to 

 the absence of easy communication. In fact, almost all of the tribal 

 differences today in the archipelago, as in many other parts of the world, 

 are due to isolation. It is noteworthy that a prominent and highly edu- 

 cated native ex-official in the islands, himself a low-country Filipino, said 

 that he saw his first Igorot at the Saint Louis Exposition. 



The Igorots furnish an excellent example of the influence of topog- 

 raphy on a people.^ While much has been written about this tribe, no 

 attempt other than that by Jenks has been made, so far as the writer 

 is aware, to get down to the underlying causes of their local differ- 

 ences and their peculiar modes of providing sustenance for themselves. 

 The basic factors in the life of a people, from the Occidental standpoint 

 at least, are economic. It is well known that the Igorots have put into 

 operation a notable system of irrigation. Its origin is not attributed to 

 the Igorot himself, for it seems quite probable that the Chinaman taught 

 him, but he does use it, and that remarkably effectively. While in some 

 parts of the low country the Filipino is nearly starving for want of rice, 

 his highland brother sometimes raises three crops a year of the same 

 article in a country very difficult to prepare for a crop of any kind. It 

 is not necessary to describe the Igorot's system of irrigation here, as that 

 already has been very well done by Jenks and Worcester. Some idea of 

 it may be gained from the photograph, plate 35. 



Some of the physiographic and geologic factors which have produced 

 the kind of civilization now to be found in north-central Luzon may be 

 enumerated as: 



a. Altitude. 



h. Eugged topography — extremely accentuated relief. 



c. Absence of navigable streams. 



d. Distance from the sea, the greatest natural highway. 



e. Vulcanism. 



Altitude has given the highlander the energy which sets him apart at 

 once from the low country plain dweller. Eugged topography has pre- 

 vented the formation of large natural dwelling groups and has accentu- 

 ated the family and village life. Absence from natural streams and dis- 

 tance from the sea, the oldest highway, have kept these peoples from 

 traveling very far from home. The last-named factor, vulcanism, as mani- 

 fested by fumaroles, hot springs, etcetera, has helped to make him more 

 superstitious and to inspire awe of natural phenomena. That the system 

 of irrigation and the raising of crops on terraces on steep hillsides is 



» A, E. Jenks : The Bontoc Igorot. Ethnological Survey, Philippine Islands, vol. i. 



