The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-16

happy castaway, appeared to his wonder
ing eyes, and with Il stroke of a wand
like some benevolent fairy, changed the
threatening crocodile INTO u rock, and the
Chinese was saved. =
But do not imagine ahat the legend ends
here; the Chinese are not an unCrateful
pcople-China is ting land of porcelain, of
tea, and of gratitude. The Chinese who
had thus escaped vbm the cruel fate that
awaited him. felt dssirous of consecrating
the memory OF the miracle, and in concert
with his brethren Of Manila he built n
pretty chapel and parsonage in honor of
the good 81. Nicholas.
This chapel was for st-Iong time officiat-
ed in by bonze, and every year, at the
festival OF the saint, the rich Chinese of
give series Of fetes, which lasted for Is
days. But it happened that an Arch
bishop of Manila, looking upon this wor-
ship offered up by Chinese gratitude as
nothing but paganiSm, caused both the
chapel and parsonage to be unroofed.
These harsh measures had no other re-
suit than to admit the rain into the build
inGs; but the worship due to st. Nicholas
still continued, and remains to this day.
Perhaps this arises from the attempt to
suppress it.
AT present at the period when this
festival takes placc-that is, about the 9Th
Of November every year-a delightful view
presents itself. During the night large
vessels may be seen, upon which are
built palaces actually several stories
high, terminating in pyramids, and lit up
from the base to the summit. All these
lights are reflected in the placid waters of
the river, and seem to augment the num-
Der OF the stars, whose tremuiOuS images
dance on the surface of the waters. 1t is
an extcmporised Venice.
In these palaces they give themselves
up to play, to smoking opium, and to the
xf.Ns,C Is
OF Chinese incense is burning every
where and at all times in honor of st.
Nicholas, who is invoked every morning
by throwing into the river small square
pieces of paper of various cOlors. st.
Nicholas, however, does not make his
appearance, but the fctc continues for
fortnight, at the termination of which the
faithful retire till the year following.
And now that the reader is acquainted
with the legend OF the crocodile, of the
Chinese, and OF the good st. Nicholas, |
will lesume my voyage.
| sailed on peaceabiy upon the Pasig,
proceeding to the conquest of my new
dominions, and indulging in golden dreams.
gazed on the light smoke of my cigarette
without rejecting that my dreams, my
castles in the air, must evaporatc like it.
| soon found myself in the Lake OF Bay
The lake occupies an extent of 80 leagues,
and | greatly admired this fine sheet of
water, bounded in the distance by mount
aims of fantastic fo-r1S.
At length | arrived at QuinabOutasan-
this is a Tagal word, which signifies that
which is perforated" Qdinaboutasan is
situated on a strait, which separates the
island OF Taiem from the continent. We
stopped for an hour in the only native hut
there was in the place, to cook some rice
and take our repaSt.
This hut was inhabited by very old
Fisherman and his wife. They were
still, however, able to supply their wants
by fishing. At a later period shall have
occasion to speak of old Relempago, or
the Thundcrer," and to recount his
history. When was in the center of the
sheet OF water which separates Talem from
Jala-Jala | came in sight of the new
domain which | had SO easily acquired,
and l could form some opinion of my
acquisition at glance.
(To be coniinucd.l