There is little differentiation of the functions of the in-tug-tu’-kan.  It hears, reviews, and judges the individual disagreements of the members of the ato and makes laws by determining custom.  It also executes its judgments or sees that they are executed.  It makes treaties of peace, sends and accepts or rejects challenges of war for its ato.  In case of interato disagreements of individuals the two in-tug-tu’-kan meet and counsel together, representing the interests of the persons of their ato.  In other words, the pueblo is a federation made up of seventeen geographical and political units, in each of which the members recognize that their sanest, ripest wisdom dwells with the men who have had the longest experience in life; and the group of old men —­ sometimes only one man and sometimes a dozen —­ is known as in-tug-tu’-kan, and its wisdom is respected to the degree that it is regularly sought and is accepted as final judgment, being seldom ignored or dishonored.  In matters of a common interest the pueblo customarily acts as a unit.  Probably could it not so act, factions would result causing separation from the federation.  This state of things is hinted as one of the causes why the ancestors of present Samoki separated from the pueblo of Bontoc.  The fact that they did separate is common knowledge, and a cause frequently assigned is lack of space to develop.  However, there may have been disagreement.

Crimes, detection and punishment

Theft, lying to shield oneself in some criminal act, assault and battery, adultery, and murder are the chief crimes against Igorot society.

There are tests to determine which of several suspects is guilty of a crime.  One of these is the rice-chewing test.  The old men of the ato interested assemble, in whose presence each suspect is made to chew a mouthful of raw rice, which, when it is thoroughly masticated, is ejected on to a dish.  Each mouthful is examined, and the person whose rice is the driest is considered guilty.  It is believed that the guilty one will be most nervous during the trial, thus checking a normal flow of saliva.

Another is a hot-water test.  An egg is placed in an olla of boiling water, and each suspect is obliged to pick it out with his hand.  When the guilty man draws out the egg the hot water leaps up and burns the forearm.

There is an egg test said to be the surest one of all.  A battle-ax blade is held at an angle of about 60 degrees, and an egg is placed at the top in a position to slide down.  Just before the egg is freed from the hand the question is asked “Is Liod (the name of the man under trial) guilty?” If the egg slides down the blade to the bottom the man named is innocent but if it sticks on the ax he is guilty.

There is also a blood test employed in Bontoc pueblo, and also to the west, extending, it is said, into Lepanto Province.  An instrument consisting of a sharp spike of iron projecting about one-sixteenth of an inch from a handle with broad shoulders is placed against the scalp of the suspects and the handle struck a sharp blow.  The projecting shoulder is supposed to prevent the spike from entering the scalp of one farther than that of another.  The person who bleeds most is considered guilty —­ he is “hot headed.”