The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-07-07

entirely; and one morning some people
Cat their head Don Jose Fuentes my
constant friend) mad enough to dare to
visit a mad man-such was the name
given to me at Manila, when / left to go
and live in the country-came to see me
armed to their very teeth.
The surprise of these venturesome
visitors is impossible to be described,
when they found us at Jala-Jala, calm,
and in perfect safety. Their astonish-
1lent increased when they went entirely
Through our colony; and on their return to
town they gave such an account of our
retreat, and of the entertainments thew
found there, that shortly after we received
more visits, and / had not only to give
hospitality to friends, but likewise to
strangers. If, now and then, our affairs
compelled us to go &c Manila, we very
soon came back to our mountains and
forests, for there only Anna and myself
were happy. Very great reasons alone
could induce us to leave our pleasan Mt
abode; however, a slight event occurred
mat obhged us to quit it for short time
l was informed that one of my friends
who had acted as witness to my marriage
was seriously ILL What the greatest
pleasure, the most heartfelt Joy, the most
splendid banquet, could not obtain from
me, inendship exacted. At this sad in
telhgence L determined at once upon
gong to Manila, 10 give my advice To the
SICK man, whose family had solicited my
ald; and as my absence might be pro-
ionged, l. packed up my things, and we
left, our hearts sadder than ever AT bav
ing to quit Jala-Jala on so mechanically an
errand. Upon my arrival there. / was
told that my friend had been taken from
Manila TO Boulacan, province to the
noftn Oh that town, where it was hoped
the country air would hasten his recovery.
left Anna at her sisters. and went off tn
JOIN Don Simon, whom / found conva
leScent; my presence was almost useless
and the journey had made resulted i'm
:. g<ata-. snl.
rade by the hand whom would not leave
until convinced that he was entirely re.
covered.
In order to utilize my time, / decided
upon making tour to the north into the
PROVINCES OF liocos and Pangasinan ri
had my reasons for SO doing; wished If
possible, TO make an excursion IN fbe
Tinguians and Igouots, wild populations,
who were much talked OF, but little
known. / wished 10 study them mvseIf
] took the precaution not to confide This
idea to anybody, for then, indeed. peopIe
would not have known what name to give
my folly.
! made my preparations, and set out
with my faithful Lieutenant, Alila. who
never left me, and who was Justly STYLED
Mabouu-Iao. We were mounted unon
good horses, that carried us along IKE
Eazelles TO Vlgan, the chief town of the
rIofihce OF oouth llocos, where we left |
the animals. From there we took a puide |
who conducted us on foot to the east |
close TO a small river called Abra fonen,
ing. This river is the only issue Nv
which we could penetrate to the Tinpuian
II winds around high mountains of basajt.
IT'S sldeS are steep; Its bed is encountered
with immense blocks Of rock. fallen from
the sides OF the mountains. which rende,
1t Impossible To walk along its banks
To reach the Tinguians il is necessa,y
70 have recourse to slight skiif. that can
easily rass through the current and the
most shallow parts. My guide and NV
Lieutenant soon contTived to make a small
raft OF bamboos; when il was finished we
embarked, AHA and myself, our guide
refusing TO accompany us. After much |
trouble and fatigue, casting ourselves
often INTO the water To draw our raft along |
we at length got clear of the first range al
mountains, and perceived i'm "a small
plain, the first Tinguian village
when we reached there we got mt and |
Went towards the huts we had distin |
gulshed IN the distance. | allow il was
acting rather foolishly TO 60 and thus
expose ourselves, in the midst of a COLONY
OF ferocious and cruel men whose Ian.
guage we did not know; but j relied upon
my usual good fortune. will add that
mad taken divers objects with me TO give
as presents, trusting to meet some in
napitant speaking the Tagaloc language |
walked on, then, without troubling nv
sen about what would become of u.s. In
lew minutes we reached the nearest
cabins, and the inhabitants gave us at
hTst an unwelcome reception.
frightened at seeing us approach thew
advanced towards us, armed with Ratchet |
ana spears; we waited for them without |
recoiing in the least. / spoke TO them by |
signs, and showed them some necklaces
oil glass beads, to make them understand
we were friendly disposed. They deiiber-
ated among themselves, and when they