The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-26

We pass to chapter dealing exclu-
siVely with Luzon, which, with its A.,
600 square miles, includes more than
third of the aggregate land area OF
the Philippine Islands. In it's northern
portion are extensive chains of lofty
mountains. There are also a number of
volcanic peaks, active and extinct, and
Prof. Worcester tells US that the world
does not contain more perfect cone
than that of the MayOn volcano in AL
bay province. 1t rises to a height of
nearly ten thousand feet, and from
every point of view its outline is per"
feet. Taal, on the other hand, is one
of the lowest active volcanos known;
it is now but 900 feet high. it's whole
top having been blown off during a
terrific eruption in 1749 The river and
lake systems of Luzon are second in
Importance only to those of Mindanao.
The Rio Grande de Cagayan rises in
the South Caraballo Mountains. near
the centre of the island, and empties
at it's extreme northern end, after
draining an immense area. The soil
throughout it's valley is extraordinarily
fertile, producing the best tobacco
grown in the archipelago. The Rio
the South Caraball range. but flows
in the opposite direction, emptying into
Manila Bay by more than twenty
mouths. The low ground along it's bank
produces good crops of rice and sugar
cane. Among other considerable
streams in Luzon may be mentioned
the Rio Agno and the Bicol. The La
guna de Bav, distant but a few miles
MI al 10 III ~
est body of fresh water in the archi
pelago. although some of the Mindanao
lakes approach it closely in size. Its
greatest length is % miles and its great
est breadth q. 1t empties into Manila
Bay by the Pasig river, which separ-
ates the newer portion of the city from
the old. Lake BombOn. from the centre
of which rises the Taal volcano, meas
ures IA by II miles The population of
Luzon, roughly estimated at 100000,
is divided into numerous tribes, OF
which the Tagals, or Tagaloss, and the
Ilocanos are the most important. Both
OF these races are civilized. and as q
rule, orderly. although brigandage is
not uncommon in Tagal territory. There
are a few Negritos left in Maridees
Mountain, near the mouth OF Manila
Bay, and in the vicinity of Cape En-
gano they are still quite numerous.
They are commonly believed to be the
true aborieines of the Philippines, but.
even at the outset of the Spanish con-
quest. they were getting the worst of
it In their struggle with the Malay in
| vaders. They ere described as sick
ly race. of almost dwartsh stature:
| their skins are black, their hair is
"A
repulsiVe. They practice agriculture
but little, living chiefly on the fruits
| ani tubers which they find in the for
est and on the game which they bring
down with poisoned arrows. Some of
| the remaining wild tribes in LuzOn are
| OF pure Malay extraction, and others
are, apparently. half breeds, between
| Malays and Negritos; one of the Igor
| rote peoples is believed to be descend
| ed from the followers of the Chinese
| invader Limahong. The word Igor
rote," which was originally the name
| of IL single tribe, was extended to in
| dude all the head-hunting peoples of
| Luzon, and later became almost
| synonymous with wild, so that when
| one uses the term today he refers To
Il number Of fierce hill tribes which
| differ more or less inter Sc. Head
| hunting is practiced with especial zest
by the Gaddanes, hut is for the most
| part confined to the season when the
| iiretree is in bloom. 1t IS said TO be
| impossible for a young man of this
| tribe to find bride until he has al
| least one head To his credit. There
are number OF other heRd-hunting
| peoples among whom may be men,
toned the Altasanes eTd Apayaos, Not
all Of the wild peoples, however, are
| warlike, the Tingunanes, for example
| being peaceable, well-disposed tribe
Professor Worcester made two visits
to the island of Midanao. winch il
nearly as large as Pennsylvania. Unit
recently next to nothing was knowr
of it's interior, but the priests of th'
Jesuit mission have persistently pushed
explorations until they have gathered
data for fairly complete and accurate
map. They recognize in the islanC
twenty-four distinct tribes, of whicl
seventeen are pagan ana six Moham
medan (Moro), while the remande
are Christian Visayans, who have mi
grated from the Nisaya group and set
tied at various points in MindanaO
especially along the north coast. Mos
of the Wild tribes are Of Malay origin
but there still remain a considerable
number of the little black Negrtos
with whom some OF the Malays hav,
intermarried. The warlike Moros ar
| dreaded. They are found along tn
southern and southwestern coasts AM
near the large rivers and inland lakes
Although the island is nominally divid
ed into provinces, Spanish control is
as "A matter OF fact. effective only il
narrow and more or less isolated strip
along the sea and near a few of tn
rivers, which afford the only means o
communication with the interior. Their
are no roads, and the futility of at
tempting TO move troops inland wa
demonstrated by General Weyler dur
ing our authors second visit
The scenery i'm Mindanao Is describe,