REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR,

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS,

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Manila, August 29, 1911. GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to present the tenth annual report of the operations of the department of the interior, which, unless otherwise expressly stated, covers the year ended June 30, 1911.

WORK FOR THE NONCHRISTIAN TRIBES.

Work for the non-Christian tribes in the so-called special Government Provinces has on the whole progressed very steadily during the year. An unfortunate and unprecedented situation arose through the fact that accrued leave became due to nearly every officer engaged in this work who did not already have it overdue. The physical condition of several of the men rendered it imperative that they should be allowed to take leave at the same time, however ill their services could be spared. Willingness on the part of others to forego their rights and patiently to await the return of those who left the islands, and good fortune in securing the services of very competent men to assist in carrying on the work of the absentees, have made it possible to get through the year without serious interruptions.

I will briefly review the situation in each special Government Province or subprovince.

NUEVA VIZCAYA.

Gov. W. C. Bryant visited the United States on leave, having previously served in the islands so long that, under the law, leave had ceased to accrue in his case. He had been authorized to start for home at the time of the so-called Mandac rebellion, a local uprising of insignificant importance stirred up by an ex-governor of Ilocos Norte, who, upon being convicted of murder, made his escape and took to the hills. He ultimately reached Nueva Vizcaya, entering the Province disguised as an Aglipayan priest. After remaining for a brief time at the town of Solano, he established his headquarters at a small and remote barrio and planned a coup which was to include, among other things, the seizure of the arms of a garrison of Philippine Constabulary at Bayombong, the provincial capital. Assisted by several men of education and intelligence, he gathered a band of ignorant dupes by playing upon their credulity and their superstition. The plot might have met with some initial success had not the township secretary of Solano, who was one of Mandac's chief confederates, become alarmed and sent word to him that the uprising must come off at once, as the principal conspirators were about to be

arrested. As a result it took place prematurely and was promptly and very effectively ended. Mandac and his principal associates were captured, tried, convicted, and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment. Most of his ignorant followers were allowed to go their way unmolested, but as a lesson to others a few of the more responsible among them were arrested and tried. They received short jail sentences. There existed absolutely no known motive for this uprising, so far as the common people who were engaged in it were concerned, but its occurrence demonstrates the power which can be exerted for evil by a clever and unscrupulous criminal who knows how to play upon popular ignorance and superstition.

Owing to the activity of Mr. Norman G. Conner, who served as provincial governor during the absence of Gov. Bryant, and to that of Mr. H. J. Detrick, the assistant to the provincial governor for work among the Ilongots, with headquarters at Baler, our knowledge of the Ilongots has been materially increased and it has been possible to get into closer touch with them.

They are forest-inhabitating savages whose physical characteristics demonstrate their possession of a considerable admixture of Negrito blood. Many of them show a decided tendency to lead the nomadic life of the Negritos, while others have fairly permanent sites for their little villages, practically all of which have now been visited without misadventure either to their inhabitants or to Government officials.

Steady progress is being made in the construction of a good horse trail into the more thickly settled portion of their territory, but owing to the sparsity of the population and the tremendous distances which separate villages, it will never be possible either to construct or to maintain at reasonable expense any such system of horse trails in the Ilongot country as has been established in the Mountain Province. Visiting officials must make their trips on foot for the most part, and the work of building a system of footpaths will begin in the near future.

On the occasion of my last annual inspection trip there was assembled to meet me at Campote the largest and most representative gathering of Ilongots ever yet brought together, and it is anticipated that next year's gathering will be still larger.

There has been no known case of aggression by Ilongots against white persons or Filipinos during the year, although the more remote settlements continue to fight among themselves.

The effort to find a practical route for a trail from Baler to one of the Filipino settlements in Nueva Ecija was successful, but as the estimated cost of building such a trail was P45,000, and as investigation proved, contrary to expectation, that the forests through which it would pass are without Ilongot inhabitants and consequently do not form part of Nueva Vizcaya, it is impracticable for that Province to construct it. In my opinion it ought to be constructed, as the people of Baler are now cut off from communication with the outside world during a not inconsiderable portion of the year.

THE SITUATION IN THE MOUNTAIN PROVINCE AND ITS SEVERAL SUBPROVINCES.

The work of the government of the Mountain Province has suffered but one interruption during the year. It proved desirable to accept the resignation of Lieut. Gov. Blas Villamor, of Apayao, and

Lieut. Clark, of the Philippine Constabulary, was appointed acting lieutenant governor in his stead. At this time word was apparently spread among the wild Tinguians of this subprovince that there was to be a change in the established kindly policy of the Government and that they were to be harshly dealt with. There was absolutely no foundation for such statements, yet they caused the temporary abandonment of a number of villages and interfered seriously with the progress of the work which had been inaugurated in this subprovince. During the year the subprovincial launch used in maintaining communication between Tauit and the seacoast went out of commission through neglect. A considerable sum was expended on the construction of a road from Ngagan, the usual head of navigation of the Abulug River, to Tauit, the subprovincial capital, without the accomplishment of any real construction work. Substantial progress was, however, made on the Apayao portion of the trail system which is to form a part of the main line north from Twin Peaks in Benguet to Claveria on the coast of northern Luzon, and will in the near future connect with the other portion of this line, which at present extends from Baguio to the northern boundary of the subprovince of Kalinga.

The most important piece of new work remaining to be done in northern Luzon is in the Subprovince of Apayao, in many parts of which head-hunting is still unchecked. Mr. Norman G. Conner, who served as governor of Nueva Vizcaya during Gov. Bryant's absence, and whose experience with the Ilongots will be of great assistance to him in his new field, will be appointed lieutenant governor of Apayao in the near future, and it is hoped that it may be possible to report decided improvement in the situation in this subprovince at the end of the next fiscal year. Meanwhile it is worthy of note that during the year just ended there has been no case of attack upon whites or upon Filipinos by the rather warlike people of this subprovince.

THE SITUATION IN THE SUBPROVINCE OF BONTOC.

In Bontoc, as in the other remaining subprovinces of the Mountain Province, there has been no serious disturbance of public order during the year. The new provincial building and the building which is to serve as a penitentiary for the hill people of northern Luzon have been practically completed. Each structure is admirably suited to its purpose and both are substantially constructed. A small modern hospital building is rapidly approaching completion, and when equipped will be of inestimable value to the people of this region, who are now for the most part more than willing to give up their ancient custom of endeavoring to cure their physical ills by placating the spirits of the dead, and show a rather touching confidence in the ability of the white man to afford them relief.

A ditch which will furnish the town of Bontoc with an abundant supply of pure mountain water has been nearly completed.

Road and trail work has been largely confined to improvement of the main line from the Lepanto boundary to Bontoc and from Bontoc to the Ifugao boundary, at the crest of the Polis Range, the CervantesBontoc Trail having been widened sufficiently to make its use feasible by narrow-tread carts shortly after the visit of the Secretary of War.

The people of the Subprovince of Bontoc have, with insignificant exceptions, cooperated cheerfully with the Government in the construction of public works and the apprehension of criminals. The few cases of head taking which have occurred have been promptly and effectively dealt with.

THE SITUATION IN THE SUBPROVINCE OF IFUGAO.

The

Lieut. Gov. Jeff D. Gallman, of the Subprovince of Ifugao, to whose individual effort is largely due the establishment of most satisfactory conditions among its population of approximately 125,000 people, who until recently were inveterate head-hunters, went to the United States on well-earned and long overdue leave. His duties have been performed during his absence in a most satisfactory manner by Lieut. Owen A. Tomlinson, Philippine Constabulary. condition of public order in the subprovince has left practically nothing to be desired. Some 24,000 men labored 10 days each on road and trail work. Existing trails were not only well maintained but were in many instances widened, straightened, and otherwise improved, while much new trail was constructed. It did not prove possible to complete the trail between Banaue, Ifugao, and Bugias, Benguet, quite to the Benguet boundary, as the necessary explosives did not arrive in time. The disinclination of vessels engaged in the interisland trade to transport dynamite and powder is a constant source of irritation to the officials of the special government Provinces and of delay in the carrying out of road and trail work which it is their duty to perform. Orders for dynamite, fuse, and caps not infrequently remain unfilled for six to eight months.

THE SITUATION IN THE SUBPROVINCE OF KALINGA.

Rapid progress has been made in the Subprovince of Kalinga during the year. Under the direction of Lieut. Gov. Walter F. Hale the main trail north was completed to the Apayao border, with the exception of work on three rock bluffs, which was nearly completed. That portion of the main line south between Lubuagan and Bangad was widened, and is now in excellent condition.

The most noteworthy event of the year was the securing of some 300 firearms. The fact that these firearms were in the hands of the Kalingas had long been well known. It would have been possible to take many of them by force, but Lieut. Gov. Hale believed that with patience the people could be persuaded voluntarily to give them up, and it seemed to me best to give him a free hand in the matter. He secured the voluntary surrender of some 250 firearms; the rest were finally taken by force.

The people of one small group of settlements had long openly defied him. More than a year ago, when he attempted to visit them, they threw lances at him. He gathered up the lances and returned them with a polite intimation that such action on their part was discourteous and that he wanted to make friends with them. He was assured that they would not be his friends, but, on the contrary, desired to fight him. Indeed, he was informed that they would take his head at the first opportunity. For nearly a year he patiently tried to establish friendly relations with them, utilizing as go-betweens

certain of the inhabitants of friendly neighboring towns. His efforts were, however, entirely fruitless, and in the end four of the hostile settlements "broke their peace" with neighboring settlements of their own people and started on the warpath, thus making summary measures imperatively necessary. Lieut. Gov. Hale, assisted by a strong detachment of Philippine Constabulary, under command of Capt. Harris, and by a number of his own headmen among the Kalingas, visited the offending settlements and severely punished them. "Houses" (the people of this particular region live in mere shacks of little value) were burned, pigs were killed, and other damage was inflicted. Four of the people of the settlements were killed, but in fair fights which they themselves started. A number of firearms were taken. The expedition ended upon the arrival of an unexpected and undesired contingent of Kalinga reinforcements. It was feared that these people, who were anxious to aid Lieut. Gov. Hale, and were probably at the same time not averse to taking a stray head or to plundering their enemies, might prove difficult to control and they were accordingly accompanied to their homes.

This expedition accomplished the desired result. Participation in it by a considerable force of friendly Kalingas, who obeyed orders and refrained from improper conduct, was a noteworthy event.

The leading men of the offending settlements promptly got in touch with Lieut. Gov. Hale, and on my annual visit to Lubuagan I had the pleasure of conferring with them at that place, to which they had come voluntarily. The vigorous and effective action taken in this case renders the necessity for similar action in Kalinga in the future improbable.

THE SITUATION IN THE SUBPROVINCES OF AMBURAYAN, LEPANTO, AND

BENGUET.

The Igorots of the Subprovinces of Amburayan, Lepanto, and Benguet are, with few exceptions, peaceful agriculturists, and the very worst of them seldom get beyond cattle stealing. Disturbances of public order among the Igorots in these subprovinces are practically unknown. Road and trail work has progressed steadily during the year, and the results have been very satisfactory, especially in Lepanto, where a new low-grade trail has been built from the top of the divide at Loo to Mancayan. It will soon reach Cervantes. The provincial buildings and grounds at Cervantes have been greatly improved, and conditions at that place have so changed for the better that I have promised the people to recommend its restoration to the status of a township if I find on my next annual inspection trip that they have continued to improve. Because of the unsatisfactory attitude of the people of this place, who were, with few exceptions, Filipinos, its township government was temporarily taken away, and it was given instead the form of government of a "ranchería," or settlement of wild people, and was thus brought under the immediate control of the subprovincial authorities.

In Benguet the so-called Mountain Trail affords a line of communication with the north country which is not subject to interruption by flood, as only one small river is crossed within the limits of the subprovince. This trail proves easier to maintain than was anticipated. Portions of it must ultimately be widened, but much of

11785°-WAR 1911-VOL 4-7