The National tribune., 1898-06-23

on my arms, on my self-possession, and
on the fidelity of my guards.
When | was well established i'm nv
house, undertook difficult and danger
Gus task, that of establishing order
amongst my Indians, and organizing my
little town according tO the custom of the
Philippine Islands. The Spanish laws,
with reference To the Indians, are al
together patriarchal. Every Township is
erected, so to speak, into little republic
Every year chief is elected dependent
for affairs of importance on the Governor
of the province, which latter in his turn
depends on the Governor of the Philip
pine Islands.
| shall here enter into some details
Every Indian population is divided into
two classes, the noble and the popular
The first is composed of all Indians who
arc, or have been, cabessas de barancay,
that is to say, collectors of taxes, which
situation is honorary. The taxes estab-
lishcd by the Spaniards are personal
Every Indian of more than II years of age
pays, in four inStalmentS the annual sum
of three francs; which tax is the same tn
period of the year, IL of the cabessas dc
barangay become electors, and assem-
| bling together with some of the old in
habitantS Of the Township they elect, by
ballot, three of their number, whose
names are forwarded to the Governor ol
|
| amongst these names whichever he
pleaSes, and confides to him for one yeaI
the functions OF GobernadOrcillo OF
| IReputy-Governor.
| To distinguish him from the other In.
dians, the Deputy Governor bears a gold
| ht a led cane, with which he has the
| right To strike such Of his fellow citizens
as may have committed slight faults
His functions partalic at the same time O
| those OF Mayor, Justice of the Peace, anc
Examining Magistrate.
When The election for Deputy -Governo
takes place, the assembled electors choos,
| all the officials who a.c to act under hin,
These are alguaZiis, whose number /.
proportioncd la the population; two wit
! ncSSeS, or assistants, who are charged
with the III alton OF the acts Of the
Depui Y Governor-for without cir pics.
encc and sanction his acts would be con.
sidcrcd nuii and void Il loucs dc Dal,li:,
or palm Judge, with the functions ot
rural guard; a vaccinator. bound Ia be
always furnished with vaccine matter for
w-born children; and q SchoclE,astcr
charged with public instruction; fnaIy. a
sort OF gendarnleric, to watch banditfi and
the state OF the roads within the precincts
Of the commune and the neiChborinc
lands.
Men grown up, and without employment.
form a civic guard who watch over the
safety Of the village. This guard indi-
Gates the hours Of The night, by blows
struck upon large piece Of hollow wood.
Such were the measures that | wished
to adopt, and which, it is true, possessed
advantages and disadvantages. The
greatest Inconvenience attending them
was undoubtedly that Of placing myself
in q state of dependence upon the
Deputy Governor, whose functions gave
him certain right, for | was his ad-
miniStrato-. II is true that my rank. as
commandant Of all the gcndarmeric Of the
Province, shielded me from any Injustice
that might be contemplated az inst me.
knew very wei that, beyond military
service, | could ini let no punishment on
my men Without the Intervention of the
Deputy Governor; tut ! had sufficiently
studied the indian character To know that
| could only rule il by the most perfect
justice and wcll-undcrStood severity.
The natural disposition of the TagaI
Indian is Il mixture of vices and virtues.
Of good and bad qualities. A priest has
said, when speaking OF them: They are
great children and must be treated as If
they were little ones.
! IL is really curious to trace, and still
more SO TO read. the moral portrait OF a
native Of the Philippine Islands. The
Indian keeps his word. and yet-will il be
belevcd'-he is a liar. Anger he holds in
horror, he compares it To madness; and
even prefers drunkenness, which, how
ever he deSpiSeS. He viii not hesitate Ia
use the dagger to avenge himself for in
justice; but what he can least submit Ii
is an insult, even when merited. When
he has committed fault, he may be
punished with n hogging; this he receives
without murmur, but he cannot brook
an insult. He is brave, generous, and Il
fataiist. The profession of n robbcr
which he willingly exercises, is agreeable
| TO him. on account Of the life Of liberty
and adventure il affords, and not because
| it may lead to riches.
Generally speaking, the Tagalocs arc
good fathers and good husbands, both
these qualities being inherent. Horribly
| jealous Of their wives. but not in the least