Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-15

and sulphur. As for the timber. there Is
nothing to equal Its quality and quantity
The Spanish have never been able TO
develop the islands. and the Chinese had
not sufficient means to put their full pro-
ductiveness to the test. There Is some
gold to be found In the sands OF the
hundreds of rivers. but the Philippines
are not exactly a Klondike. With Ameri-
can methods, improvements. and good
Yankee business sagacity, 1 venture to
assert that the islands could be made to
yield ten times as. much as they do at
present.
"of course, the climate is hot and en-
ervating. There is only one place that
can send the mercury higher. but that
Is not OF this world. Still a generally
prevailing moisture teppers the fierce
heat. and there IS a constant alienation
of land and sea breezes. 1t makes me
mad to hear folks say we are opposed to
sending a large land force TO assist Com
modore Dewey, that the climate Is I'M
healthful. 1t Is not 80 by any means.
There is no place In the tropics which
Is more healthful or where the rate OF
mortality is lower, and our gallant hero
would not lose a man except by the acci-
dents of war and causes which obtain at
home.
Many OF the islands are constantly
In vibration. owing to the earthquakes,
and the group is within range OF the mon
SOON, which makes hurricanes common,
but these are disadvantages you must
expect in the Kanaka Islands. There Is
rare hunting in the woods and jungles
OF many OF the islands. The jungles
swarm with hummngbirds, parrots, and
many birds Of brilliant plumage. which
opens up prospects for great feather
trade for the Americans. The humming-
birds are fierce little creatures.
II landed ono time with a hunting
party on the Island of Mindoro and PEN
etrated jungle In search of rare birds.
One OF our men branched off from the
party, and we temporarily lost sight Of
him. Presently we were startled by cries
OF terror, and saw the man beating his
way toward US through the thick. strang-
ling swamp growth. Above him was
fiuttering cloud. AS he came within few
feet OF us we discovered that a swarm
Of thousands OF hummingbirdS had
attacked him and were Furnishing him
severely. His face and neck were bleed
ing from a thousand minute wounds, for
they had succeeded in piercing the veil
he wore as a protection against the vora-
cious insects with which the tungles
TEEN. Even his clothing was filed with
hummingbirds. whose long. slender. little
DlllS Udu DtCOIDS biiS AASoh~o
of the cloth, and 1t took the entire party
a good ten minutes to drive off the angry
birds For two weeks the man was laid
UP, so badly was he injured. He said
afterward that he had stumbled upon
great conclave Of the birds and that they
had resented his intrusion by flying at
him from all directions.
"If l had my choice Of places OF resi-
dence in the tropics" concluded Captain
Merritt, II would take Manila. IL is
beautiful city-half Spanish, half Orien-
tai in aspect. The suburbs are perfect
bowers of cultivated flowers and adorned
with residences of artistic design Some
of the finest driveways in the world are
there; and talk about driving-the ma
tives would 90 without food before they
would sacrifice an opportunity TO get up
behind a nag Every evening Il Is a
great sight i'm Manila TO see the turn
outs on the broad driveways. Traps OF
all kinds are pressed into service, from
swell carriages Of American and Euro
pean make TO domestic affairs OF sublime
simplicity and primitveness. And the
variety of the steedS used TO propel them
IS as remarkable. There are blooded
stock from abroad for the foreigners and
rich natives, and diminutive, but spirited,
little native horses for those who are
not so well off in this worlds goods.
Nobody with any pretentions to being
somebody Is afoot at this time, and even
the frugal. hated Chinese feel themselves
called upon 20 indulge the luxury of a
drive"