The relations with two of these pueblos, Barlig and Sadanga, however, are now not peaceful.  Bontoc has many kin in Lias, some two days to the east, the trail to which passes Barlig; but communication between these pueblos of kin has ceased, because of the attitude of Barlig.  Communication between Bontoc and Tinglayan, northeast of the Bontoc area on the river, has also ceased, because of the enmity of Sadanga, which lies close to the trail between the two pueblos.

The peace ceremonial, to which a hog or carabao is brought by the entreating people and eaten by the two parties to the agreement, is called “pwi-din.”  The peace is sealed by some exchange, as of a battle-ax for a blanket, the people sued having the better part of the trade.

It now and then happens that of two pueblos at peace one loses a head to the other.  If the one taking the head desires continued peace, some of its most influential men hasten to the other pueblo to talk the matter over.  Very likely the other pueblo will say, “If you wish war, all right; if not, you bring us two carabaos, and we will still be friends.”  If no effort for peace is made by the offenders, each from that day considers the other an enemy.

There is a formal way of breaking the peace between two pueblos:  Should ato Somowan of Bontoc, for instance, wish to break her peace with Sakasakan she holds a ceremonial meeting, called “men-pa-kel’.”  In this meeting the old men freely speak their minds; and when all matters are settled a messenger departs for Sakasakan bearing a battle-ax or spear —­ the customary token of war with all these Bontoc peoples.  The life of the war messenger is secure, but, if possible, he is a close relative of the challenged people.  There is no record that such a person was ever killed while on his mission.  The messenger presents himself to some old man of the ato or pueblo, and says, “In-ya’-lak nan sud-sud in-fu-sul’-ta-ko,” which means, roughly, “I bring the challenge of war.”

If the challenge is accepted, as it usually is, an ax or spear is given the messenger, and he hastens home to exclaim to his people, “In-tang-i’-cha men-fu-sul’-ta-ko” —­ that is, “They care to contest in war.”

A peace thus canceled is followed by a battle between practically all the men of both sides.  It is customary for the challenging people, within a few days, to appear before the pueblo of their late friends, and the men at once come out in answer to the challenging cries of the visitors —­ “Come out if you dare to fight us?” Or it may he that those challenged appear near the other pueblo before it has time to back its challenge.

If the challenged pueblo does not wish to fight, the spokesman tells the messenger that they do not wish war; they desire continued friendship; and the messenger returns to his people, not with a weapon of war, but with a chicken or a pig; and he repeats to his people the message he received from the old man.