Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-04-30

walks are shaded by canopies that are con-
ttnuous from one end of the street to the
other. The streets themselves are rela-
lively wider than the height of the build
ings would naturally require. Soldiers and
priests, met at every turn, indicate the
military and ecclesiastical powers of the
much governed city. The newest and most
pretentious houses are along the banks of
the river. Even these are unassuming
without, though highly adorned within
Each house has a landing place from the
river, and with each one there will al
ways be found a small bamboo hut to
which the Inhabitants repair twice a day
for bathing. Extensive suburbs stretch
along both banks of the river beyond the
limits of the city, and altogether cover a
space of about five square miles. Within
this territory there are to-day something
like 100000 people, notwithstanding the fact
that hundreds of thousands have been
killed by earthquakes. The sanitary con-
dition of the city is bad. Drinking water
comes from the river above the city. and it
is charged with all kinds of refuse floating
up and down with the tides. Numerous
canals, spreading out from the Pasig, rami-
fly the town and run dry for half the
year. leaving deposits of the fetid mud to
poison the atmosphere.
The Philippine islands.
The Spaniards call the Philippine islands
1.-THE Pearl of the Orient" and the desig-
nation is a truthful one. They are inhab-
fted by a naturally peaceful and gentle
race. For nearly three centuries they have
been nominally Spanish, but that element
is, strictly speaking, confined to the mill
tary and official classes. Strange to re-
late. there are so many islands In the Phil
ippines that the exact number is unknown
There are nine very large ones-Luzon,
Panay. Cebu, Leyte. Bohol, Negros, Sa-
mar, Mindanao and Mindoro-with more
that 200 smaller ones. They have an area
Of over 100000 square miles and a popuIa-
ton of about 100000.
Manila. the capital of the Philippine ISL
ands and the chief city of Luzon, contains
population who are principally Spanish
creoles. Chinese half-breeds and the origin
al natives. The bay of Manila, the largest
and finest in the world, could offer anchor
age to the united fleets of Europe But the
glimpse of the city Is disappointing. Flat
as a pancake" the town stretches along
on both sides of the river Pasig and the
shores of the magnificent harbor. A heavy
protective tariff imposed by the conquerors
and not relaxed until 1869, when more Hber-
ality was introduced into the customs serv-
ice, has left commerce, especially with
Spain, in languishing condition.
twenty-five years ago, Manila, surround
ed by walls and ramparts with its low tiled
roofs and scattered towers. presented the
appearance of an ancient European fort
ress. In 1863. however, a devastating earth
quake occurred. and in few minutes the
city was converted into pile Of ruins. In
consequence of this calamity. most of the
modern dwellings are of a light and unas-
suming character, being built Of planks
and bamboo and palm leaves.
The country increases in beauty toward
the interior, and at the base of the mount
aims the scenery becomes strikingly grand.
Much of the surface is fresh and undis-
turbed ground. full of undeveloped riches.
Some of the smaller islands are exquisite
and covered with verdure down to the edge
of the bluest of seas.
The Natives.
The natives are a branch of the Malay
race, small and principally dark brown in
color. They have some of the characters
tics of the American Indian, among which
are the high check bones and coarse hair.
These. however, are not as n rule promi-
nent in the women many of whom are pos
sessed of great comeliness and intelligence
| Some of them are quite fair and of Eu-
ropean type, doubtless owing to a large ad-
mixture of Spanish blood. The features of
the men are generally coarse and in the
main ugly. with tho exception of the eyes,
which are dark, soft and at times express
i've. They have abundant black hair. Their
hands and feet are small and beautifully
formed. as are the figures of the women.
and they can use their toes almost like
fingers. As a race they are as faithful and
devoted as dogs when well treated but
morose and revengeful when Ill used. They
are tractable and docie in service and can
initiate anything. but are entirely devoid of
originality.
The native bellies have bright. expressive
faces. soft black eyes. full of animation.
and suggestive of sensuality. The men are