The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-08-18
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.

d voyage, UlSem parks ana resides tempo
rarily at Manila. The ship by accident
sails without him. He makes a great rep
utation by curing SIP nish Captain Don
Parras, of blindness, and falls in love with
and marrieS Madame de Las Salinas a
beautiful widow. His wifes fortune, W hich
was to come from Mexico, is | st. They
repair to Tiena-Alta, a garden-spot of the
islands, where the author cares for his
sick wife until she is we'll. He buys a
country seat at Jala-Jala, where he makes
friends with the native leaders and enlists
them and some of their followers as his
guard. A village is established La
Gironiere commands all the local gen
darmerie of the province. His brother
Henry arrives to manage the plantations
The author graphically relates the numer-
Gus adventures he experiences.
CHAPTER XII
Tapuzf which in the Tagal language
signifies lend of the world" is a little
village, situate in the interior of the
mountains, nearly IS leagues from Jala-
Jala. 1t was formed there by bandits and
men who had escaped from the galleyS,
who live in liberty, govern themselves,
ana are altogether, on account of the
inaccessible position which they occupy
safe from any pursuit which could be
ordered against them by the Spanish
Government.
| had often heard this singular village
mentioned, but ] had never met anyone
who had visited it, or could give me posi-
| tive details relative to it. One day there
fore, resolved to go thither myself.
stated my intention to my Lieutenant,
| who said:
Master, l shall find there, no doubt
| some of my old comrades, and then we
shall have nothing to fear"
Three OF us set out together, under the
pretext of quite a different journey. For
| two days we walked in the midst OF
mountains, by paths almost impracti
cable. The third day we reached a tor
rent, the bed of which was blocked up by
| enormous stones. The ravine was the
| only road by which we could get to
Tapuzi; it was the natural and impreg
nable rampant which defended the village
against the attack of the Spanish troops.
Ny Lieutenant had lust told me:
Look, master, above your head None
but the inhabitants of Tapuzi know tn e
paths which lead to the top of the mount
aims. All along the length of the ravine
they have placed enormous stones, that
they have only to push to throw them
down upon those who should come to
attack them; whole army could not
penetrate among them, if they wished to
give any opposition"
L Citciiy St" tIIdL we were not In n very
agreeable position, and against which, If
the Tapuzians should consider us as
enemies, we could oppose no defense.
But we were involved in it, and there was
no means of retreating-it was absolutely
necessary to go to Tapuzi.
We had been already more than an hour
in this ravlne when an immense block OF
stone fell down perpendicularly, and
broke into pieces only 20 yards before US;
it was warning. We stopped, laid down
our arms and sat down. Perhaps lust
such another block as what had fallen
was hanging. over our heads, ready to
crush us to pieces.
RECEIVED AS FRIENDS.
We heard scream near u.s. told my
Lieutenant to proceed alone towards the
direction from which it came. In a few
minutes he returned, accompanied by
two Indians, who, confident in my pacific
intentions towards them, came to take
us to the village. We proceeded cheer
fully on the remainder Of the road until
we reached the spot where ended the sort
of funnel we were walking in. Upon this
hight there was to be seen a plain, some
miles in circumference, surrounded by
high noun tainS.
The part that we were in was stopped
up by enormous blocks of rocks, lying one
on the top of the other. From behind
stretched forth an abrupt threatening
mount tain, without any signs of vegeta-
tiOn-not unlike an ancient European
fortress that some magical power had
raised in the midst of the high mountains
that commanded it. With one glance
beheld the whole of the site we were
crossing, and at the same time reflected
upon the great varie ties nature presents to
our view.
We soon reached the long wished-for
object of our iOurney-the village of
Tapuzi. 1t lies at the extreme end of a
plain, composed of about so matched huts
similar to those of the Indians The in
habitants were all at their windows, to
witness our arrival. Our guides con-
Quoted us to their chief, or Matanda-
sanayOn, a fine old man, from the look of
his face about 80 years of age. He bowed
affably to us, and addressed himself to
me.
How are you come here-as friend
or is it curiosity-or do the cruel laws of
the Spaniards perhaps compel you to
seek refuge among us? If such is the
case, you are welcome; you will find us
No." said to him; 1--WE do not come to
stay among you. | am your neighbor,
and lord of Jala-Jala. l am come to see
you, to offer you my friendship, and to
ask yours
At the name Jala-Jala the old man