Times-promoter., 1898-11-26

| tally known as the pithecanthro-
pue erectus-or erect monkey
man whose eremains were recen-
tly dug up in Java, was oneotor
at most a direct ancestor OF, this
same type.
The Aeta has been neglected IN
popular literature apropos OF the
recent war. He has never yet been
studied thoroughly. He is very
shy, and there are only few of
his species living. Its estimated
that these peculiar men will be-
come extinct in few generations,
for they are sickly and wretched.
Their birth rate is fast falling off.
They are extremely short lived,
growing Old at forty.
They have apelike faces, deep
ly lined; noses broad and flat, with
nos,rils dilated, broad at base and
depressed at root; woody hair, un-
derlips thick and hanging down,
sunken eyes; arms long, like those
of the monkey; slender legs with
no calves; feet turned inward,
with small chests and slender bod
les. The bones Of their lower legs
are deformed, due to their habit
of crouching on their launches
about their fires, which they do
even in hottest summer. They
: are very hack, and average four
feet nine or ten inches in height.
Otherape characteristics are their
, protruding jaws and wonderful
ability to pick up the smallest OBJ
t iect, even needle, with their
feet.
e The Aeta man considers himself
/ luxuriously dressed ifhe has on a
l oirdle. The most intelligent can
: not count above five, They have
never progressed SO far as to In
!. vent musical instruments. The
4 chief weapon is the bow which
e they ha.nfle in primitive fashion,
e releasing the cord with thumb anc
e forelinger. Thev are very 3kiiliu
It at throwing stones, and hunt birds
e il 5hat way. They make theirtire
e Ly rubbing pieces of dry bamboo
q together. Some file their teeth IL
o to points, until the upper and low
; er sets look like two saws coming
= together. A few OF them detorn
> the shape of their skulls bv press
l. ure. When food is scarce the'
l. drink hot water, and tie fbe
!, around their waists TO preVen
'e hunger. They live mostly upol
the wild tropical fruits Of the for
ID est and wild honey. The wome
J. do all the work.
lo After the Spaniards had con
If quered the Philippines the Aeta
s. in the wild parts OF the island
at used to come down from the mou1
d. tains in hordes and attack the II,
tiyes converted by hemlssionarie
y Later they became more peacetl
~ and brought down wax and pltc
T. and learned to trade thin for rlC
to and tobacco. This commercethe
still keep up,
pc The Aetas have never learne
~ to till the soil or to make potter,
~ Some of them make rude COM
" and roughly ornament these,
" we'll as their bows. Some hay
II learned from the Malays to hui
" with the blowpipe.
~ Spanish missionaries, upon e
"' deavoring to convert some Aet
le. ,,
Of north Lnzon, weretold that OF
49, OF tneir creeds forbade them wo
49, rying about the future, and ba'
! them trust entirely to their 90
~; to provide for them. Their pri
cipal deity is believed to be t
moon. When it is full thev bui
a great fire and Jump about it
night, wailin& hideous cha1
They havea great dread Of wh
,e- they appear to consider evil splr
of. lin the forest. Some old time ira
us elers reported that they sacrifc
ion q pig to paciiy the gods when