The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-12
ONE DAY IN MANILA
EXPERIENCES In THE CAPITAL
CITY OF THE PHILIP
PPINES
CHARACTERISTICS OF ITS OWN


Strange Sights The Trouble
Tourists Have in Securing Their
Baggage - DisagReeabIe Odors
Numerous.
From the Detroit Free Press
Prof. Dean C. Worcester of the Uni
versity Of Michigan, contributes to the
New York Independent an account Of
"A Day in Manila" Some interesting
experiences are related in the MARIA
tive, which Is appended.
The close Of our first day In Manila
hnds us thoroughly tired out We can
hardly Keep our eyes open until our
dinner is swallowed, and we flatter our
serves that we shall sleep soundly; but
we are doomed to disappointment, for
the problem Of making ourselves COM
Portable on the Philippine beds Is not
one that we shall solve the first time
trying. The pillow we understand, and
we decide that the sleeping mat is in
tended to go under us and the sheet to
serve for cover; but what is the bolster
for? We push 1t to one side and lie
down. We find the sleeping-mat de-
l1ghtfully cool, and think the bed quite
a success, but in a few minutes discov-
er that some parts of our bodies are
unsupported, and are beginning to
cause US discomfort We try another
position, and yet another; but the re-
sui Is always the same. We tumble
and toss, finally failing asleep from ut
ter exhaustion, and Waken in the morn
Ing feeling as If we had passed the
night on wood-pile. Eventually we
learn how to utilize that useless-look-
ing bolster in a scientific manner, and
after that We find the Philippine bed
very comfortable
Upon investigating our waiter pitcher
we find 1t empty and ring the electric
bell; but no one appears. We ring
again and agadn, and finally, growing
desperate, we open the door and call
long and loud. We have now hit upon
the proper and only method of sum
moning servants: for the electric bells
We're out OF order a month after the
hotel was built, and they will never be
fixed.
Breakfast Is served In our room. It
consists of bread, thick chocolate, and
a pair of eggs"-pasado por aqua. In
Vestgatton cOnvinQes us that the tenn
perature of that water must have been
very moderate, and the passage of the
eggs very expeditions, for they are
simply raw; they are very slightly
warmed, and the albumen is barely
f1ecked with white. We cannot eat
them at first; but we learn to do so
later, and become reconcled to their
rawness when we learn that they are
more easily digested IN that condition;
for it is soon borne in on us that our
digestions must be treated with great
respect in Manila especially during
the early weeks of our stay.
we now bethink ourselves Of our
baggage, and, hiring q quelis, we set
out for the aduana, which we reach
by devious ways. Since the trap is
hired by the hour, why should it's driv-
er take a direct route?
Most custom houses leave some
things to be desired; but I doubt If
there Is on the face Of the earth one
quite so bad as the aduana at Manila.
We are In blissfui ignorance Of this
fnct, however, and do not know that
the best and almost only way for a
stranger to get his effects passed, Is
to turn the whole matter over to some
one who understands things, and quiet
ly pay his bill We, therefore, APP
proach polite official, and state that
we have come to get our baggage
Where is your baggage, senores?' We
do not know; neither does the official
Furthermore, he does not care
If, in delicate manner, and with
due regard for that fine sense Of honor
which is a Spaniard's most prominent
characteristic, we contrive to convey
to him the idea that It might be to
his material advantage to find our be-
lCngings, there is g. sudden change in
his demeanor; but should our diplom-
acy prove unequal to the occasion we
must shift for ourselves.
We hunt through several warehouses,
and eventually our search proves sue
cessful. We approach the nearest off,
cial, point out our trunks and ask
to have them inspected. But, senores,
it Is now II o'clock, and the custom
house closes at II. We cannot complete
the inspection and make out the papers
Tomorrow, senior 81" We are beginning
to learn one Of the reasons why tourists
do not often visit Manila
Yielding to the inevitable we prepare
to go, but stop in anazement to watch
the trea tment bestowed upon a couple
Of well-to-do Cinnamon. They stand
before their pile Of chests, which are
about to be inepect ed by a Spanish Off
cial, aided by several sturdy native
assistants. The official demands the
keys. They are instantly produced; but
before one Of them can be fitted ham,
mer and cold chisel have made short
work of lock. The chest Is turned
bottom up, and It's contents dumped on
the concrete floor, where they are stir
red, kicked and hauled about, until
they are strewn over a space ten feet
Square. Some Chinese confections are
unearthed; the official helps himself,
and his native assistants do likewise
The official hauls out a nice piece of
silk, and remarks: What a thoughtful
Chinaman! He has brought a present
for my wife" The owner of the silk
assents.
We imagine that he will get off cas-
lily now; but no. The leather top Of
his chest Is ripped up with a knife, lest
it should serve to conceal contraband
goods; the bottom is knocked out with
an iron bar in virorous attempt to
ascertain whether or not it is hollow.
At this the owner ventures to mildly
protest. BY way of reply, he gets a
blow from a rawhide, which raises
blue welt across his face. Two ma
tives seize q board by it's ends and use
1t as a scraper to push his belongings
to one side. Some Of them fall into
the wrecked trunk Is pitched after
them.
Meanwhile the other chests have
been unlocked, and they are searched
in the same way. A ported plant,
which has been brought from China, is
jerked up, and the dirt is carefully
shaken from its roots, ostensibly in q
search for concealed goods.
Knowing that we have no contra
band or dutiable goods, we have been
determined to get possession of our
belongings, and that without brlbing
any one; but now we fall to wondering
whether our effects will be subjected
to the sort of treatment which we
have Just seen, and wisely decide to
turn the whole matter over to one Of
the many agents" who understand
the custom house.
After lunchiand siesta, we decide to