The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-09-10
PHILIPPINE AMAZ0NS
UTTERLY WITHOUT FEAR AND POS.
SESsED OF THE FRENZY OF DARING.

SEo0cI VT N6NE-t ~ SHfN'"~s
Romantic Struggle to Free Themselves
From Spanish Oppression-On Their
Smooth, Round Arms They Gear the
Insurgents " Brand.
The women of the Philippine ISL
ands, like those of Cuba, are taking
an active part in the revolution
against the Spaniards. Indeed, 1T is
largely on account of the women that
the revolution exists, the indignities
offered them by the Spanish being the
last drop which filed the cup of in
dignation to overflow. 1t is the old
story of cruelty and oppression which
has been repeated in each and every
one of the Spanish colonies since the
days of Christopher Columbus.
The population of the Philippines
is mixed one. First, there are sew
eral native tribes, chief among which
are the Negritos, or African people,
as the Spanish call them. Those,
downtrodden for centuries, have re-
treated to the wilderness, and play
small part in the revolt, except by
their readiness to give aid and COM
fort to the insurgents. There are
many Chinese, number of Japanese,
and between 10, 900 and 90 900 Euro
peans-Dutch chiefly, English next,
with sprinkling of all other nation
allties. The principal element in the
population is, however, the Malay, a
race of peculiar interest to the eth
nologist. Brave to recklessness, vim
dictive and revengeful, the Malay is
not unlike our own American Indian
at his best. He is hard to attach, but
when once won he is faithful unto
death. Passionately fond of his wife
and children, he idolizes the woman
whom he loves.
Travellers describe the women as
handsome, vigorous and intelligent,
with large black eyes, clear olive
compilations, perfect teeth and satiny
black hair, of which they take excel
lent care. Daintily neat in their
persons, the daily bath is au institu-
ton. They revel in delicate per,
fumes, extracted from the flowers oil
the islands, and their sense of smell is
as acute as that of sleuthhound.
They allow the thumbnail to grow very
long, which assists in playing on the
| guitar, an accomplishment in which
they excel.
When the Spanish discovered the
islands they found them in the pos
session of Malays who had conquered
the Negritos, driving them back into
the wilderness, where they still live
Many Chinese dwelt among them, ant
there was a steady trade between
China and the Philippines in sugar
tobacco and hemp. The Spanish tool
possession, as was their way, and fol
800 years have oppressed and NAL
treated the unlucky mestizos, as the.
called them. But the centuries hav'
brought with them large admixtur'
of European blood, principally Span
ish, into the Malay strain, increasing
their pride and revengefulness. More
over, these mestizos have been indus
trious. They have worked hard AM
prospered, spite of heavy taxation.
They have sent their sons ant
daughters to Europe and educate'
them, and still they have gone on TO
wears patiently enduring Spain
heavy yoke. The oppression in Cub
has been as nothing to that in tn
Philippines. Everything is taxed t
the utmost, and the slightest excus
has sufficed for confscating the entir
property of any man not under tn
protection of a foreign government
The native subject of Spain has abse
lutely no rights under the law, an
no matter what outrages he may SUI
fer no mestizo can sue Spaniard c
obtain legal redress. In Manila tn
poorer natives are employed as ser,
ants, and to punish them for sligi
offenses they are often tortured, some
times to death. Worst of all, If
, worthless Spaniard looks with cove
/ GUS ewes on the daughter of me-
tho the woman is at his mercy, an
the father is powerless to protect ht
and prevent distasteful marriage
, It was this last outrage which pr
voked the revolt, and the women al
said to have melted the men to tn
step. Many of them are in the reb
,, ranks fighting side by side with the
husbands and fathers, and it is sal
, that in o recent attack Innis, ii
, stronghold of the rebels, where tv
, Spanish colonies were among ii
: killed, one of them fell by the hand
: a woman-not by rifle shot, but
, hand to hand conflict, in which tt
Amazon used the native weapon, IL
/ polo.
. These women have been describe
as utterly without fear-possesse
:; indeed, of the frenzy of daring to
of by travellers, as shown in the M
: Law custom of running amok."
: Reports all agree that the Amaz'
a leaders in the Philippine army a
!. rarely killed, their very recklessne
serving to protect them by strikil
Il terror into the hearts of the Spaniard
It who regard them as possessed by sol
4 uncanny sprite. On the other han
= their daring inspires the insurger
with confidence and they fight Ii
demons.
Nine. Rial, who is promine
. among therebel leaders, is believed
Z. the insurgents to bear charmed Ii
= She herself, according to all accoun
= appears to be utterly devoid of fe
& not only risking her life readily
n battle, but when arrested and in pc
at NJ sneedy execution defying the Sp,