RESEARCH TOPICS
ROY F. BARTON
CORRESPONDENCE
John W. Barton, the nephew
of Roy F. Barton, has been kind enough to make important historical
correspondence related to R. F. Barton available to the public. The first part
of this correspondence is presented here: RFB
CORRESPONDENCE
MISSING ROY F.
BARTON MANUSCRIPT
In the preface to "The
Religion of the Ifugaos", published October 1946, Roy F. Barton
mentions that all his field notes and several book size manuscripts were lost
when he was interned by the Japanese during WWII. All together there were nine
book size manuscripts. Specifically he mentions that "Notes on the
Northern Kankanai" and "Ifugao Myths, Folktales and Legends"
were lost to the enemy.
However, in the addendum to
"The Kalingas - Their Institutions and Custom Law", Fred Eggan
writes:
Barton lived long enough to learn the good news that his revised manuscript on the Kankanai was not lost, as he had supposed, but had been saved through the efforts of Professor H. Otley Beyer. A recent communication from Professor Beyer states that he is adding some materials to the text, and it is hoped that it will be published in the near future.
This was written on
September 21, 1947; not long after Barton's death in April 1947.
In 1955 Barton's "The
Mythology of the Ifugaos" was finally published; but the "Notes on
the Northern Kankanai" never appeared in print. The National Museum of
Australia houses the Henry Otley Beyer collection of manuscripts today,
however, the Kankanai manuscript is no longer included in this collection.
Apparently the Kankanai manuscript was separated from the Beyer collection some
time after September 1947 without being replaced with a copy. Or was it?
In May 2004 ALTACO
received a message from Charity Doyle, the great granddaughter of H. Otley
Beyer. She informs that what appears to be the lost Barton Kankani manuscript
has been located among those H. Otley Beyer's documents that still remain with
the family. Charity has also contacted the relatives of Roy F. Barton so that
what was set into motion over a half century ago can now be concluded.
ANGULAR WOODEN FIGURES
Angular wooden figures from
Luzon differ from traditional Luzon tribal sculpture in an unorthodox manner
since they are neither simplifications nor exaggerations of any other known
form. For this reason it is being attempted to trace where, when and by whom
these sculptures were produced.
The leading expert in this
field is Brian Durrans at the British Museum. Please forward any relevant
information to bdurrans@british-museum.ac.uk
Three "Angular Wooden Figures" together with tourist objects. Luzon,
ca. 1890. (Lopez Memorial Museum, Manila)
Figure
from Northern Luzon collected by Alexander Schadenberg ca. 1890, with elements
of the angular wooden figures.
Collection of RIJKSMUSEUM VOOR VOLKENKUNDE
Small angular figure as handle on utensil. The stomach is thin and jointed. The
helmet lacks the ridge. Teeth are present, inspiring interpretation as evil
spirit.
Private Collection
SIMILARITIES IN TEXTILE DESIGN:
Information about similarities in textile designs shall be listed on this web
page as it becomes available*
In some respects these Kalingas differed from the tribes already visited. Their superior height has already been noted. It may be noted further that they are sloe-eyed, and their eyes are wide apart. It is said that they have an infusion of Moro blood, brought in, many years ago, by exiles from Moroland turned loose on the north coast of Luzon by the Spaniards, with the expectation that the local tribes would kill them; instead, they intermarried. Among themselves they call their important men dato, a Moro title, and their Moro dress has already been mentioned.**
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Kalinga/Bagobo twill weave. Bagobo examples are
listed as follows: Plate 31 "Hand-woven textiles of South-east
Asia" (Fraser-Lu), plates 1.28, 2.18, 2.33 and 2.34 "From the
rainbow's varied hue" (Hamilton), plates 196, 197 and 198
"Sinaunang Habi" (Pastor-Roces) Proposed reasons for
similarities: Mainly technical/geometric options, and some indications of
common aesthetic basis.
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Kankanay-Ifugao-Lepanto-Bontoc/Bukidnon/Indonesian
floating warp.
Bukidnon examples are
listed as follows: Plates 1.68 and 1.69 "From the rainbow's varied
hue" (Hamilton)
Proposed reasons for
similarities: Mainly technical/geometric options
Binakol.
Other cultures with similar
traditional designs: Russia (ref. Anderson), Norway and North America (ref.
Hamilton)
Proposed reasons for
similarities: Copying of imported textiles (probably European)
Justification: Ilocano
access to import wares, and contact with missionaries
Please contact ALTACO if
you have additional information.
* ALTACO is grateful for
the assistance and advice from Patricia O. Afable, NMNH-Asian Cultural History
Program, Smithsonian Institution; and Roy W. Hamilton, UCLA Fowler Museum of
Cultural History
** Willcox, Head Hunters of
Northern Luzon, Franklin Hudson Publishing Co., 1912, p. 224
SPANISH
CONNECTION
The shape of Ifugao spoons is probably derived from the Chinese. Although the
Ifugao did not use forks, they often produced them together with spoons for the
tourist market. This Spanish spoon and fork set is from ca. 1900. Without the
relief design, the fundamental shape bears a striking similarity with Ifugao
counterparts, and illustrates how external demand for forks manifested itself
in Ifugao.
???
This miniature hagabi was collected by Alexander Schadenberg ca. 1890,
and has been classified as Tingguian. These sculptures are normally known
(upside down from what shown here) as models for the full size hagabi made by
Ifugao carvers for the kadangyang before the full size item was
produced. While the bench was kept under the house, the model was kept inside
the house where it would obtain a soot patina after some time.
Another
example
Collection of RIJKSMUSEUM VOOR VOLKENKUNDE
Hagabi
stools have a relatively flat surface to sit on. These beautiful pieces of
furniture are reportedly being used today in the Cordillera, however, more
information is desired in order to ascertain when they emerged, if they have
emerged independently, or if they emerged as a result of external demand.
Collection of Greg Quist