Certain Igorot, as those of Asin, make forcible conquests on their neighbors and carry away persons for slavery.  Asin made a raid westward into Suyak of Lepanto Province in 1900, and some American miners joined the expedition of natives to try to recover the captives.  But Bontoc has no such conquests, and, since the people have long ago ceased migration, there is no conquest of territory.  In their interpueblo warfare loot is seldom carried away.  There is practically nothing in the form of movable and easily controlled valuable possessions, such as domestic cattle, horses, or carabaos, so the usual equilibrium of Bontoc property distribution has little to disturb it.

The primitive agriculturist is thought of in history as the victim of warlike neighbors who make predatory forays against him, repeatedly robbing him of his hard-earned accumulations.  In Igorot land this is not the case.  There are no savage or barbaric people, except the Negritos who are not agriculturists.  Sometimes, however, some of the Igorot groups descend to the settlements of the Christians in the lowlands and in the night bring back a few carabaos and hogs.  The Igorot of Quiangan are noted for such robberies made on the pueblos of Bagabag and Ibung to the south in central Nueva Vizcaya.  Sometimes, also, one Igorot group speaks of another as Busol, or enemy, and says the Busol come to rob them in the night.  I believe, however, from inquiries made, that relatively very small amounts of property pass from one Igorot group to another by robbery or conquest.

The Bontoc Igorot appears to be in a transition stage, not usually emphasized, between the communism of the savage or barbarian in which each person is said to have a share as long as necessities last, and the more advanced forms of society in which many classes are able to divert to their own advantage much which otherwise would not come to them.  The Igorot is not a communist, neither in any sense does he get the monopolist’s share.  He is living a life of such natural production that he enjoys the fruits of his labors in a fairer way than do many of the men beneath him or above him in culture.

Consumption

Under this title will be considered simply the foods and beverages of the people.  No attempt will be made to treat of consumption in its breadth as it appears to the economist.

Foods

There are few forms of animal life about the Igorot that he will not and does not eat.  The exceptions are mainly insectivora, and such larger animals as the mythology of the Igorot says were once men —­ as the monkey, serpent-eagle, crow, snake, etc.  However, he is not wholly lacking in taste and preference in his foods.  Of his common vegetable foods he frequently said he prefers, first, beans; second, rice; third, maize; fourth, camotes; fifth, millet.