The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-22

Chinese. many Mestisos and the rest
Tagals. The Mestixos are q half-breed
between the two races, with the types
and vices Of each. They are the most
energetic n the wealthiest Of the
races in the Philippines. The Chinese
are the merchants. manufacturers and
mechanics. and the TagaIs are mostly
agriculturists, laborers n boatmen.
The city of Manila has many things
peculiar to itself. The houses are tile
covered open affairs. with projecting
upper stories and sliding windows.
while the lower stories are shielded by
huge canopies, which lend q welcome
shade to the sidewalk. Glass is un-
known in the windows. Tiny panes
two inches square,. made of the shell
of a translucent oyster, called CON
chas." shut U the glare of the sun,
admit light and secure privacy. The
by three wid The upper part alone
Is of the tiny frames, the lower third
being always of sliding panels. orna-
mented in various ways on the outside.
The floors are of polished woods; no
carpets, no curtains or upholstering;
only cane furniture n soft straw
mattings; no mattresses on the e
stead. only the mating and a linen
sheet to wrap ones self In over the
~''pajahmas." which are worn day and
night. Well protected by a mosquito
net with windows open. n may sleep
soundly or lie awake and wait for the
acknowledgements earthquake.
The city Is Illuminated by kerosene
lamps, as gas pipes are of little use in
such unstable soil. In dwellings and
stores, candles and swinging lamps of
--A g.
the earthquake shock make kerosene
a dangerous light. 1t is a fortunate
thing that the habits and needs of the
native inhabitants are satisfied with
their bamboo hut, matched with the
leaves of the nipapalm. for accidents
and CONGREGATIONS happen daily. The
homes are easily rebuilt.
The principal streets of the city are
the Escalto and the Rosario, where
almost everything can be purchased at
a reasonable price. Many travellers
think the strangest sight in Manila Is
the large two-wheeled drays for mer-
chandise drawn by one to three cara
baos or water buffaloes. Imagine a
huge ungainly animal, very much
larger han our OK. of a dirty drab
color and whitish looking feet, his body
covered with coarse, scanty. strag-
Cling looking hair, carrying his big
head low down. the head surmounted
with large fiattened norns. extending
almost horizontally backward. Slow,
powerful and unwieldy as he looks, he
is docile by nature and is easily guided
by a ring through the gTistle of the
nose. to which is attached a line which
leads backward to III driver, who
either rides on his back or stands on
the shafts.
The weight of the load is borne on
the neck by means of a rough wooden
yoke, to which are attached the shafts
of the wagon. The animal is really in
valuable to the natives of that climate,
for with none other could they carry
on agriculture, especially i'm the rice
and grain fields. II delights to wal
low in the mud or to submerge itself
in the water, and it draws the pillow
and heavy loads with ease and pre-
cision, though knee deep in the mud.
Its meat is unfit for rood, though the
milk of the female, called ~caravalla,
is very generally USED. as we use cows
milk. The skin is sometimes used for
common sandals.
Manila is a much governed city and
one meets both soldiers and priestS at
every urn Such being the case the
principal buildings are the churches
and the barracks. The churches seem
to be the most conspicuous objects. but
close examination leaves little worth
seeing. They are solid. plain looking
buildings, generally sadly out of repair
and crumbling from age and the shak-
ings of many earthquakes. One sees
no works of art. only glittering orna-
ments gold and silver candlesticks n
painted arches. The priests n people
carefully observe all holidays with
pomp, pageant and
The priests have great power over
the supplemented natives. but use IL
for the general good. Take awa the
priests and the natives would be un-
governable and the Ian would soon
lose all traces of civilization.
The principal exports to Europe,
Australia and the United States are
hemp. sugar. tobacco, cigars, coffee.
cocoa, dye woods. hides, rice, hats n
grass cloth. Tobacco is the most i'm
portant product and cigar making the
most important industry. The climate
is generally a healthful one. From No
vember to April. while the tempera-
ture often reaches SO degrees Fair, il
is not oppressive, n the nis hts and
early mornings are COOL From May
to November is the rainy season. and
the heat is like our dog days. damp
and hot and at the same time chilly:
yet the air is pure inc epidemics sell
dom visit the stands. Cholera visited
there in 1882. but was no worse than
in temperate Inmates Altogether the
islands are healthful and delightful.