NOTES ON SOME PRIMITIVE PHILIPPINE TRIBES 299 



dignity of citizenship, which to the Philippine native means 

 merely the paying of crushing taxes without receiving any ade- 

 quate return. 



A little distance from the Spanish town I found the people 

 friendly and unsuspicious. They informed me that " in the 

 early days " they were governed by a great chief, chosen by the 

 will of the people, who held office for life. If he proved a good 

 ruler, his eldest son was allowed to succeed him ; otherwise a 

 new chief was chosen. 



BISAYAN NATIVE AND HOUSE — SALAG DAKO, GUIMAItAS ISLAND 



At present, however, there is no ruler for the whole tribe. The 

 affairs of each community are directed by a council of elders, 

 who administer justice according to their own ideas, with little 

 regard for Spanish customs and requirements. 



The method employed to determine the guilt or innocence of 

 a person accused of crime is both novel and effective. The old 

 men conduct accused and accuser to the bank of some deep 

 pool, and there, in the presence of relatives and friends, the 

 two dive into the water at the same instant. The one who re- 

 mains longest beneath the surface is adjudged to have spoken 



