Manila, May 22.
The attitude of the non-Christian tribes of the Philippines toward the independence question is gradually being revealed to the Wood-Forbes mission, which took great pains to ascertain the sentiment of the hill people of Northern Luzon.
A delegation of Igorrotes, from the region around Baguio and Bontoc, informed General Wood that they preferred to remain under American sovereignty. Leaders among the Ifugao tribes, most of whom are pagans, informed General Wood that they desired American rule for the present; at least until their peop had been sufficiently well educated to govern themselves locally. After that, they stated, they were willing to live under either Filipino or American sover-eighty.
Luxuries or THE Past.
Mr. Forbes found that considerable progress had been made by the non-Christians since his term of office as Governor-General ended seven years ago. Many of the Igorrote girls who were pupils in the schools at that time are now teaching. Head-hunting has virtually died out, although it is true that few cases were reported during Mr. Forbes's governorship. The custom of dog-eating is still observed by most of the Igorrotes who can afford to indulge in this luxury, but it is practised less openly than before.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.