The bellows operator sits squatting on a slight platform the height of the bellows, and constantly works the plungers up and down with rhythmic strokes.

Two men at first handle the hot iron —­ one, the real blade maker, holds the white-hot metal with long-handled iron pinchers (purchased in Candon) and his helper wields the 30-pound hammer.  He stands with legs well apart, grasps the heavy hammer with both hands, and swings it back and forth between his legs.  The blow is struck at the downward, backward swing.

These smiths weld iron, and also temper it to make steel.  The following detailed picture of a welding observed in a Baliwang smithy may be duplicated there any day.  The two pieces of iron to be welded were separately heated a dull red.  One was then laid on the other and both were cooled with water.  Wet earth, gathered for the occasion at the side of the smithy, was then put over them; while still covered they were inserted again in the fire.  When red-hot they were withdrawn, the little mound of earth covering the two pieces of iron being still in place but having been brought also to a red heat.  A few light blows fell on the red mass, and it was again returned to the fire.  Four times the iron was withdrawn and received a few blows with a light hammer wielded by the master smith.  On being withdrawn the fifth time half a dozen blows were struck by the helper with the 30-pound hammer.  Again the iron was heated, but when removed the sixth time the welding was evidently considered finished, as the shaping of the weapon was then begun.  Weldings made by these smiths seem to be complete.

The tempering done by the Igorot is crude, and is such as may be seen in any country blacksmith shop in the States.  The iron is heated and is tempered by cooling in a small wooden trough of water.  There is great difference in the quality of the steel turned out by the Igorot, even by the same man, though some men are recognized as more skillful than others.

There are four styles of spear blades made by Baliwang.  The one most common is called “fal-feg’.”  It is a simple, single-barbed blade, and ranges from 2 inches to 6 inches in length.  This style of blade is the most used in warfare, and the smaller, lighter blades are considered better for this purpose than the heavier ones.

The fang’-kao, or barbless lance blade, is next common in use.  It is not a war blade, but is used almost entirely in killing carabaos and hogs.  There is one notable exception to this statement —­ Ambawan has almost no other class of spear.  These blades range from 4 to 12 or 14 inches in length.

The other two blades, si-na-la-wi’-tan and kay-yan’, are relatively rare.  The former is quite similar to the fal-feg’, except that instead of the single pair of barbs there are other barbs —­ say, from one to ten pairs.  This spear is not considered at all serviceable as a hunting spear, and is not used in war as much as is the fal-feg’.  It is prized highly as an anito scarer.  When a man passes alone in the mountains anito are very prone to walk with him; however, if the traveler carries a si-na-la-wi’-tan, anito will not molest him, since they are afraid when they see the formidable array of barbs.