in such a way that its provisions will harmonize more fully than at present with those of the general provincial act, which has been put in force in the pacified provinces inhabited by civilized natives.

It was ascertained that conditions in Lepanto were so similar to those prevailing in Benguet that little modification in the Benguet laws was needed. Commissioners Worcester and Moses found representatives from every Lepanto settlement gathered at the capital, Cervantes, to meet them. The assembly was so large that no building in the place would hold it, and a public session was accordingly called in a shaded street. Half a day was spent in a detailed explanation of the form of local civil government which had been given to the Benguet Igorrotes, and the Lepanto Igorrotes said that they were well satisfied with the laws described, and desired to have the benefit of similar laws at the earliest practicable time.

It was then hoped that civil government might soon be established in Lepanto, but the more important work of organizing provinces inhabited by civilized natives necessarily took precedence. This work having been practically completed, it will now soon be possible to proceed to the organization of the few remaining provinces of Luzon, which are peopled entirely or largely by non-Christian tribes.

NON-CHRISTIAN TRIBES.

There is at present a lamentable lack of accurate information as to the non-Christian tribes of the Philippine Islands. Although the Commission has thus far been able to give but slight attention to the interests of this part of the population, enough work has been done to show that a number of tribes included in the most reliable lists thus far published have no existence in fact, on the one hand, and that tribes exist which have never been included in any list, on the other. Similarly, it has been proved that wild tribes are absent in several provinces where they have been stated to exist, and that they exist in some provinces-as, for instance, Samar-which have been popularly supposed to be inhabited only by Christianized natives.

It can be stated with certainty that non-Christian tribes exist in the provinces of Cagayan, North Ilocos, South Ilocos, Union, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Tayabas, Ambos Camarines, Romblon, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, Western Negros, Eastern Negros, Samar, Surigao, and Misamis, although there is a heavy predominance of Christianized natives in each of these provinces. In Isabela and Abra, on the other hand, the non-Christian tribes are numerous and important, while in Bontoc, Lepanto, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, Principe, Infanta, Mindoro, the Calamianes Islands, Palawan, Balabac, the Sulu Archipelago, and the districts of Zamboanga, Cotabato, and Davao, in Mindanao, they constitute the bulk of the population. The total non-Christian population may be roughly estimated

at 2,000,000, although it should be clearly understood that any attempt to make a statement as to its numbers is at present to a very large extent guesswork. Many of the tribes are numerically insignificant. Not a few are quite numerous and powerful. Some of them, like the Negritos, are physical and mental weaklings, while others, like the Igorrotes of Bontoc, display a superb physical development and show mental and moral qualities such as to lend weight to the opinion of the Filipino patriot, José Rizal, who said: "The future of the Philippine Islands is in the people of their mountains."

The Moro tribes of southern Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago, Balabac, and southern Palawan are the only ones among these non-Christian peoples which could afford any serious menace to public order or to the peace of any important portion of the archipelago. Thanks to the good judgment of the military officers in those regions, the friendliest relations have thus far been maintained with the Moros of the Sulu Archipelago and of the districts of Zamboanga, Cotabato, and Davao. The Moros of the Lake Lanao region have long been reputed the fiercest and most urcompromising members of their tribe. The Spanish Government spent several years in an unavailing attempt to subdue them. They were at first very suspicious of Americans; but markets have been established for them at Iligan, on the north coast, and at Tucuran, on the south coast, and they are now coming down to the sea on market days in constantly increasing numbers, which indicates greater confidence in and better feeling toward the Americans. While injudicious conduct might readily precipitate a fierce conflict with these people, it is hoped that no such untoward event may occur anywhere in the Moro country.

With the exception of Misamis, there are no Moros in any province where civil government has been established. An act has been passed forbidding prospectors to visit that portion of Misamis which they inhabit without the written permission of the military commander of the Department of Mindanao and Jolo. The same act prohibits the sale of intoxicating beverages in the one town which they frequent.

The problems presented by these non-Christian peoples are neither few nor insignificant. Some of them, like the Tinguianes in Abra, are possessed of a very considerable degree of civilization, while others, like the Negritos of Bataan, have been definitely proved incapable of any considerable advancement. The Moros have a fairly well organized governmental system, but no other one of the numerous non-Christian peoples has a tribal government, while in not a few cases the family is the only recognized social unit, and even the family tie is loose.

Certain of the non-Christian tribes have highly objectionable customs. The question of how best to deal with slavery among the Moros has attracted wide attention in the United States. On its southern trip the commission met and had long interviews with the Sultan of