Ifugao (Northern Luzon, largest island of Phillipines) Law, a Chapter in Hoebel's Primitive Law

Irrigation hoe culture. Little centralization, only the family has a full-fledged leader. Lump generation (sibling, classificatory principle). Children provide the continuity essential to the perpetuation of the kinship group, the small family exists primarily for its child members.

Prestige-seeking drives life course. Enter the loan business. The real essential is wealth. Kadangyang only can build an ostentatious lounging bench, but only after he has given the uyuawae feast series (whole district invited). By their presence and gustatory participation his compatriots acknowledge his elevation to the rank. The kadangyang on his part is fairly stripped of his liquid capital. Difference between kadangyang and nawatwat, although great in prestige, is not so great in real goods. Only 9 of 109 families were wholly landless.

Less freedom for children of kanagyangs (and would-bes). Free experimentation in the girls dorms would never do (rich boy with poor girl), for it means putting personal predilection before family interests.

It is the pattern for a girl to be coy and resistant on the first approach of a boy. He, poor chap, has a tough time knowing.

The dead enter the realm of the supernatural and so control the present and future.

Purchase of a field is paid in units of 1/10th, starting with 20%. When last payment has been made, payment of extras begins (small in individual value but great in number and greater in significance).

People should avoid quarrels and quickly settle disputes. A person may ordinarily kill a distant stranger on sight. Valley system. Social morality is strong in inverse proportion to distance. Let the boys seek out the girls in safety. Lover's immunity question, lovers distinguished from mere intruders.

DIfferent forms of property rest on procedural rather than substantive distinctions. 2 kinds: one requires ibuy ceremony and other doesn't. A ritual feast at which final payments are made to the seller, along with the customary fees to the agent and windesses (provide a public record or transfer in a land with no writing, ). Ibuy property: rice fields, heirlooms (including jawbones), forest lands. This property is family property, upon which family economic and psychic security rests. Present holders possess only a transient and fleeting possession, or better, occupation, a trust maybe. Without kin support a man is helpless. First born gets it all. One strong ‘center' rather than handful of weak factions.

All offenses rest on the nature of contract (family law, basic property law, laws of irrigation, sale and indebtedness). By virtue of the nature of Ifugao social organization there can be no criminal acts. All other offenses are torts (private wrongs or injuries independent of contract). Asker and advisor (always key in the adjustment of any trouble case) people. Quasi-public official. Enjoys general influence emanating from personal prestige, but more than that he is in a position to marshall effective support from his own kinsmen in a pinch. At last to accede to the best terms he can get, if they be within reason. Sum paid linked to class status (but may be somewhat more or less). If the thief be a kadangyang the damages are quadruple the value of the stolen article. For a tokum equivalent. A lowly nawnatwat merely makes restitution. Also pay the monkalun's fee, which is also graded by class.

Action of the mediator prolongued until it amounts to repitition and revision of the suggestion for a settlement. When the suggested formula has been accepted it becomes binding upon them.

"He was wrong, and his own kin made no attempt to avenge his death."

A release from the marriage contract must be absolute and unconditional. Divorce quite frequent. Grounds: ‘Failure to cherish.’ When the couple reaches a reasonable age the father-in-law delivers the fields called for the marriage contract. For incurring reasonable debts. Chronic laziness or shiftless conduct. Any legal offense by a kinsman against kinsmen of the other family. Derelection of affection. ... The husband and wife are nover united into one family. They are merely allies. The ties that bind to the family much stronger. ... The party that gave cause has to pay a small amount (in addition to gibu customarily paid to terminate a marriage) to assuage the mental anguish caused the aggrieved partner (mental anguish, although note the causing of mental anguish is not a ground for divorce, as it is much too broad and indefinite).

Putting an innocent person in the position of being considered an accessory to an offense, manslaughter, malicious killing of animals, arson, incest, insult, slander and false accusation, unjustified seizure.

Adultery. Discreet and limited. Aggravated (open and flagrant) a genuine insult to the spouse. Then the pressures of public opinion are on them to sue.

Ifugao law breaks down when family takes vengeance besides law or in addition. Feud. A marriage heals the breach, but can be generations before that happens. If both partners be strong characters of sufficient prestige effect is to extend rule of law of both districts.

Quesions: About the lover versus intruder distinction. (Guess: armed).