Len Newell

Headhunters' Encounter with God: an Ifugao Adventure Len Newell

Nestled in the mountainous hinterlands of the Philippine Cordillera, the Ifugao people of Batad have lived for centuries, eking out a living in upland sweet potato fields and in the extensive rice terraces they carved out of the mountains. For many years, the Ifugao people led a complex and ritualistic life, appeasing hundreds of deities. Every aspect of their lives was controlled through sacrifice and communication with the spirit world. To prevent violent death, the heads of their enemies were taken through warfare and ambush along trails. The practice of head-hunting was central to their worship and, although the American and Philippine governments essentially put an end to the practice, the ritual lived on. Beautiful on the Mountains: The Ifugao Adventure is Newell's story of the trials, failures, joys, and successes of a completely non-Christian tribal group as they embrace the Christian faith and the compelling message of God.