The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-07-07
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE WASHINGTON c. THURSDAY

IN AL AV4O
town, followed by all the population, di
rected their steps towards the large shed
There everyone took his place on the
ground, each party, headed by its chiefs
Occupying place marked out for it be
forehand. In the middle of a circle formed
by the chiefs of the warriors were large
vessels, full of basi, a beverage made
with the fermented juice of the sugar
cane; and four. heads of Guinans.
When all the assistants had taken their
places, the champion of Laganguilan y
Madalag took the heads and presented
them to the chiefs of the town, who
showed them to all the assistants, max
ing long speech comprehending many
praises for the cOnQuerorS. This dis
course being over, the warriors took up
the heads, divided them with strokes OF
their hatchets, and took out the brains.
The young girls pounded them with their
hands into the vases containing the
liquor of the fermented sugar-cane; then
the vases were taken to the chiefs, who
dipped in their small osier goblets,
through the assures of which the liquid
part ran out, and the solid part that re-
manned at the bottom they drank. | felt
quite sick at this scene, so entirely new to
me.
We sat in a circle and these vases were
carried around. The warriors planted
themselves before me, and presented me
with the basi and the frightful cup. All
eyes were fixed upon me. The invita-
ton was so direct, to- refuse it would per
haps be exposing myself to death! l was
struck with terror and disgust; however,
| contained myself nothing betraylng my
emotion. / initiated the savages, and,
dipping the Osier goblet into the drink, /
approached it to my lips, and passed it to
complete: the HbationS were over, but not
| the songs.
The basi is very spirituous and in
ebriating liquor, and the assistants, who
had partaken rather too freely of this
drink, sang louder to the noise of the tom
tom and the gong. They then danced.
The dances continued all day; at last
night came on, each inha bitant retired
with his family and some few guests to
his aerial abode, and soon afterwards
tranquility was restored.
My faithful Alila retired with me into
one of the lowstoried cabins to pass the
night, as we had been in the habit of
doing while staying with the Tinguians.
For our better security we were accus-
toned to watch one another alternately;
we never both slept at the same time.
Without being timid, ought we not to be
prudent?
This night it was my turn to 90 to sleep
the first. l went to bed, but the impress
sions of the day had been too strong;
felt no inclination to sleep. / therefore
watch.
Master" said he to me, looking very
much grieved, why did we come among
these devils? All! it would have been
much better had we remained in our good
country of Jala-Jala." He was not per
haps in the wrong, but my desire to see
extraordinary things gave me courage
and a will he did not partake of. |
answered him thus: MAN must know all
and see all it is possible to see. AS we
here, let us make a night visit; perhaps
we shall find things that are unknown to
us. Light the fire and follow me, Alila."
The poor Lieutenant obeyed without
answering word. He rubbed two pieces
OF bamboo one against the other, and |
heard him muttering between his teeth:
what cursed idea has the master now?
What shall we see in this miserable
cabin-with the exception of the Tic
balan (evil spirit, or Assuan "a malicious
divinity OF the Tagalocs)? We shall find
nothing else" During the Indians re-
Elections the fire burnt up. ! lit, without
saying word, cotton wick, plastered
over with elemi gum, that ! always car
ricd with me in my travels, and | began
exploring. | went all through the inside
OF the habitation without finding any
thing, not even the Tic -baIan, or Assuan,
as my Lieutenant imagined.
| was beginning to think my search
Ruthless, when the idea struck me to 90
down to the ground floor of the cabin, for
all the cabins are raised about eight or 10
feet above ground, and the under part OF
the floor, closed with bamboos is used as
a store. / descended. Anyone who could
have seen me-a white man, a European,
the child OF another hemisphere-wander
by night, with a taper in my hand, about
the hut of Tinguian Indian, would have
been really surprised at my audacity, and
may almost say, my Obstinacy, in seek
ing cut danger while pursuing the wonder
full and unknown. But / went on, with
out rejecting on the strangeness Of my
conduct; as the Indians say: 81 was
following my destiny"
When | had reached the ground, per
ceived in the middle Of a square, in
closed with bamboos, sort of trap, and
stopped, quite pleased. Alila looked at
me with establishment. | lifted up the
trap, and saw rather deep well; / looked
into it with my light, but could not dis
cover the bottom of it. Upon the sides
only, at a depth of about six or seven
yards, l thought / distinguished some
openings that | took for entrances into
subterraneous galleries.
What had / now discovered? Was 7
like Gil Bias, about to penetrate into the
midst OF an assemblage of banditti, living
i'll the internal parts of the earth; or
should / find, as in the tales of the
arabian Nights" some beautiful Young
girls, prisoners of some wicked mag.
indeed, my curiosity Increased in pro-
portion to my discoveries.
There is something strange here" said
l to my Lieutenant; Eight a second
match, ] will go down to the bottom Of the
we'll" Hearing this order, my faithful
Allla shrunk back in dismay, and ven
tured to say to me, in frightfulIy dismal
tone:
why, master. you are not content to