The Indianapolis journal., 1898-05-06

occupy about the same social position as the
mulattoes of the United States. They will not
associate with people whose skins are
darker than their own, and they cannot as
sociate with the whites. But they are the
rlcnest and most enterprising among the
native population
In all the towns and larger villages of the
fhiilpplnes the chief municipal control. sub
Ject TO the approval of the Spanish governor
at Manila, is nominally in the hands of a
captain" native of the place, who Is
elected in accordance with irnmemorial Gus
tom, Tor two years service from among
the Villagers themselves. But in effect the
most important parsonage is the cura, or
parish priest. He is in most instances a
Spaniard by birth and enrolled in one or
otner OF the three great religious orders,
AuguStinian. Franciscan or Dominican, es-
tablished by the conquerors. AT heart how
ever, he is usually as much. if not more,
of native than the natives themselves He
is bound for life to the land of his adop-
tion. He has no social or domestic tie, no
anticipated horne return TO bind him to
DOMINATED BY CHURCH.
The villagers are devout children OF the
church which they have adopted, though
often the superstitons of the earlier life peep
through the outward semblance of Catholi-
cism. Ancestor worship is one of them. The
virgins, saints and martyrs of Roman hagi-
ology are merely placed at the head of the
unseen kingdom which previous to their rec
ognition had already been we'll tenanted by
their own ancestors and relatives. Abnor-
NAL practices and beliefs still exist and
smolder on throughout the archipelago. de-
spite the efforts of the priesthood to obliter-
ate them But as rule the Catholic Church
has shown its wontea wisdom in adopting
and engrafting upon its own ceremonial all
popular religions or social customs that
were not intrinsically repugnant to it.
Next to the church. the greatest Sunday
and holiday resort in Philippine village is
the cockpit, usually large building wattled
hn lgnf q md CInr~N dnd hxyO
high paling of the same description, which
forms sort of courtyard. where cocks are
kept waiting their turns to come upon the
stage when their owners have succeeded in
arranging satisfactory match. 1t is
claimed that many respectable
Malay pater famias has been seen
of his burning home, bearing away
in his arms his favorite Bird while wife and
children were left to shift for themselves.
One of the worst features of cockfighting,
outside of it's innate brutality, is the betting,
universal among the spectators of the, game;
The sums staked are often very high and
their payment which is rarely shirked, may
involve the ruin of the loser.
In general. the conflict does not last long.
In from two to five minutes after the set-to
one or the other of the birds is pretty sure
to be either killed or badly wounded by
steel spurs. Until this happens the utmost
quietness is maintained among the hundreds
of half-naked spectators, closely packed to-
gether in the broiing afternoon heat. There
is not hint of disorder or disturbance. In
necks and eager looks as well as by NUT
tered exclamations at the various stages OF
the fight AT the end, of course. the winners
break into noisy joy, in high spirits at pock-
citing the money, which is heard clinking on
all sides.
The diet of the Philippines bas something
to do undoubtedly with their gentle and
nonaggressive qualities. They eschew opium
and spirituous liquors. Their chief susie
nance, morning. noon and eve, Is rice. The
rice crop seldom fails not merely to support
the population, but to leave large margin
for export. Famine. that hideous shadow
which broods over SO many rce-subsisting
population, is unknown here. Even scarcity
is of rare occurrence. In the worst of years
hardly sack of grain has to oe imported.
1t is this very abundance which stands in
The Mslav Iike Other "bidren of he tron- ron
les, limits his labor by the measure of his
requirements. and that measure is narrow
indeed. Hence 1t is often difficult to obtain
his services in the development of the to-
bacco. coffee, hemp and sugar industries.
which might make the archipelago one Of
the wealthiest. most prosperous and most
discontented portions of the earth's sur
face