Natchitoches populist., 1898-09-16
THE PHILIPPINE NATIVES.
In English Traveller Says They Are "An In
c0mprehensibIe Race"

HlCueuSlDlS Noss'
Judging from the accounts of an
English traveller who has made
careful study Of Philippine affairs, the
natives of the islands, that is, the do
mesticated natives, are difficult people
to deal with. Before beginning his
studies of the native character, he
questioned parish priest who had
been living among the natives for
more than forty years. The priest de-
clared the islanders were an absolute
ly inc0mprehensible race, to whom no
known rules Of civilization or sayagry
had the smallest application. Here is
the result Of the Englishman's per-
Sonal Investigations:
"They are absolutely unreliable;
they will serve you faithfully for
twenty years and then commit some
such horrible crime as delivering over
your house and family to brigands.
They are patient, sober, and even
honest servants usually, but at any
moment they may break out and, join
Ing band of robbers, pillage your
house. If you tax them with the
crime they are not abashed, but dis
claim all responsibility, answering,
Senior, my head was hot which they
consider sufficient excuse.
"They will never confess to mis-
deed voluntarily. They will submit to
beating without murmur If they
think it is deserved and bear no NAL
ice; but if they consider the punish
ment unjust, they will seek the first
opportunity of reyenging themselves.
They never forgive and never forget
an injury, but they cherish no men,
DRY of kindness. Generosity they re-
gard as a weakness. If you give them
anything unsought they consider you
a fool and treat you accordingly. They
are always asking favOrs, though
never directly. Borrowing they think
no shame, but they never repudiate
their debts. On the other hand, they
never pay back voluntarily, and If
taxed with their dishonesty look sur
prised and say: Senior, you never
asked me for it.
/ .''If you pay a man 20 cents for a
service he will be contented; If you
pay him 80 cents he will grumble.
They have no words for thank you
in their language, nor concept Of what
the phrase implies. They have no no.
ton of charity, never helping one an
other excepting in the case Of rela-
! tives, but they acknowledge even the
| remotest ties of relationship. Ii
treated badly they make good ser
wants and never grurnble; if treated
kindly they are lost and go to the bad
They never stick to an occupation, but
are ready to turn their hands to any
thing. They are Observation-Disclosures
and good at none. They are brave
against equals if led by superiors, bu
real or fancied superiority in the fo'
causes them to abandon all hope.
"They do not know the meaning o.
hospitality. They will do what yol
tell them If you tell them Otter
enough, but they will never do any
thing of their own accord. They will
answer questions, but never voluntee
| information. They will let your hors
die for want of corn and never tel
| you the supply has given out. The,
are confirmed liars and show onl
surprise when found out, They ar
good husbands though intensely jeal
Gus. They haze no ambition and n
ideas of order or economy, but in tn
matter Of cleanliness they are super
for to all the inhabitants of the Ia
East save the Japanese"