Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-05-20
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
SCENES AND EVENTS IN MANILA. MAN
NER OF LIVING, CUSTOMS, CLud-
ATE. HOW THEY DEAL
WITH THE INsUR-
eENTe

YIN To-
Now that 50 much interest centres
in our new possessions in the far
East, and so much is being written
about the Islands, the following ac-
counts gathered from letters from a
gentleman who has for some time
resided at Manila, and who has am
pie opportunity for observation, will
throw considerable light on the Gus.
toms of tire people and the manner
in which warfare with the insur.
gents is conducted.
The houses in Manila are built mp
on posts about six feet off. the
ground in order to keep out the
water during the rainy season.
Those on the hills are built the same
for it often rains enough to cover
the ground a couple of feet deep
before it runs off. The natives on
rainy days pull an immense banana
leaf large enough to cover two and
go along in regular "Paul and Vir-
ginia Style. As there are but two
hotels in Manila, a town of 200, 900
inhabitants, and as no white man
wants to, or would live in a native
family, he keeps Louse' Our fam
lily, just at present, consists of my
friend, myself, a workman, the
cook, name unknown, the cooks
boy Pedro, my friends boy, Per.
fecto, probably named from q brand
of cigars, my boy Ramau, the horse
boy Lpzaro, the errand boy Vincinto,
two washerwomen who live at home
but come five days week and
pound our clothes on a round board
with a paddle and then iron them
spread out on the floor with large
iron having a fire inside of it, being
in facta sort Of portable stove They
will wash and iron suit of white
luck Cor six cents, but we pay them
six dollars a month, or about $3.50
in U. S. gold, and for that they do
III that we have
As to eatables, potatoes we buy
separately and keep under lock and
coy, dealing them out to the cook
by number. Fish and chickens aud
fruit of all kinds are very plentiful
bananas and pineapples we have in
our yard, and mangoes and Cocoa
nuts are very cheap. Rice is also
abundant, but here the cheapness
ends, for beef is 40 cents pound,
ham So cents, butter rs cents, etc.
We are in the midst of so, 200 native
Qndian) inhabitants. They are not
negroes, but Malays, but are a happy
childlike people with few wants
which nature does not supply, aud
no ambition beyond possessing the
best game cock in the village. The
air is often black with locusts, trav.
Cling north. They almost hide the
setting sun, and hum like million
bees. The natives are then out in
force catching them in nets, and they
will live high for at least week on
stewed locusts. This dish has been
on sale at little store here and my
friend and I have been trying to
muster courage to try them, but
have concluded to wait until we get
some wild honey to go with the de-
licacy. One morning not long ago
we drove out on a fashionable drive
way along the seashore, and wit
messed the execution of fourteen
rebels. For several weeks these
executions were the popular amuse-
ment here. When visiting Canton,
the guide lamented the fact that we
were late for the daily beheading,
but as a substitute for the sight
showed us several barrels of heads
which had figured in that morning s
work of the "high executioner. "
Some time ago the rebel chiefs were
bought off and sent to Hong Kong.
their followers dispersed and the
war was declared at an end. Still,
last Sunday we had visit from
500 robbers (not rebels) and in
the engagement which followed the
dead numbered %. This occurred
within plain sight of my house.
Farther up the country these same
bands Of robbers enter towns and
carry off money and pretty girls
quite like in the olden ii les. When
the rebel chiefs passed through Ca
lumpit, had an invitation to dine
with them, bat declined for pruden-
tial reasons. However, we drank
champagne to a pleasant voyage to
the soldiers, government men, loyal
Indians and rebels.