The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-12

Missouri ba.ckwoods wear. They are prob
ably the antelope Of the famous Mother
Hubbard" gown The maidens were
timid and coy. and confined their observa-
ton of the strangers 10 sly peeps through
the windows. but the men, the older wo-
men, and the children Of both sexes and
all sizes. that swarmed about the village,
welcomed US with great cordiality and
Hospitality. Pineapples, cocoanuts. ban
anas. breadfruit, lemons. lines and other
fruits were given to Us IN great album
dance, and many expressions Of pleasure
and gratitude for their deliverance from
the iron hand Of Spain were heard. They
were somewhat reserved in their express
sions, not feeling absolutely certain that
they were done with Spain forever, and
being naturally apprehensive that posi-
| bly, the Spamards might again obtain con-
troll and cause them TO suffer for their
good will and hospitality toward the
Americans. In this they are perhaps not
entirely wrong Doubtless, should the
| American government surrender this is
| land again TO Spain upon the conclusion
! of peace, the natives would pass several
unpleasant half-hours upon the return CT
their former masters.
The village IS under charge Of a native
| head policeman, who is responsible for the
| maintenance Of order and collection OF
| taxes. These taxes are very bUrdensome
when it is considered that doller here
viii buy as much of what the natives pro-
duce as twenty dollars would in the
United States. There are sucn rare OPP
portunities for native to procure money
by the sale Of products, or by labor CT
any kind, that it is little short Of abso-
lutte robbery to collect taxes from him.
Were it not that the climate is such that
his expense for clothing is very light,
that he can live in house built by him
self from natures materials, and that
he can subsst upon the fruit and vege-
tables growing wild or in small cultivated
patches and upon the fish he catches in
the sea, he would be unable to live at all.
The population of the island somewhat
exceeds 5000, about one half living in
Agana, which was not visited. Half as
many more live on the other islands.
Every six months every man, woman
and child must pay a head tax OF 755
sents. Every time a pig or a calf is killed
a license must be procured. A tax must
be paid for the privilege of being born,
or married or buried. There is scarcely
a thing one can do, except to eat and |
sleep, for which license is not required, !
and payment is exacted with a relentless
hand. How much revenue is annually de-
rived from these imposts 1 have not |
learned, but from the character of the |
Spanish officials and their general repu- |
tation, it is doubtful if much of it finally |
reaches the royal Golfers. No governor |
would bury himself in the wilderness
where intelligence of the outside world |
could not be received oftener than four
or five times a year, unless he hoped to
lay by a good sum for rainy day. Wey-
Ter is credited with having accumula ted
four millions of dollars in two years as
governor general of the Philippine is
lands. The governor of Guam no doubt
follows in his illustrious footsteps as
closely as circumstances permit.
The native village of Suma contains a
population of 500. 1t is built partly of
adobe houses, and partly of smaller dwell
ings of logs and poles all of them thatch-
ed with palm. The houses are in straight
rows, with streets about fifty feet wide
between them, everything about them
being neat and clean. The streets are
crushed coral. and no refuse of any kind
whatever was to be seen in them The
houses are all two stories, the lower
story being unoccupied except for stor-
age purposes. 1t is unhealthful to sleep
near the ground in this climate, and only
the second floors of buildings are used for
residences. The cheaper houses are set
on stills. there being no ground compart-
ment- In the village is an adobe church,
without seats, and having a very crude
alter and accessories. A Spanish priest
holds services here every two weeks, di-
viding his attention between several viii
lagos. There is also an adobe school
house and all the children are taught to
read and write Spanish. Our converse
ton with them was somewhat restricted,
owing to the fact that they knew but a
few words, and to the further fact that
our Spanish was almost as limited, not
the pretensions at speak
ng Spanish some of our party made.
The houses are all numbered, and the
of each house are registered
-or the purpose of collecting taxes.
About a mile from the village there is
L large plantation, owned in small por-
ions by the various villagers, and here
hey grow the food they live upon. and
which they sell as occasion offers. Tire
s no such thing as market value for
my of these products. Fifteen cents was
a munifcent price for an en-
ire bunch of bananas, whereas cocoa
nuts at a penny apiece was considered a
rood bargain by the natives Almost all
he money in circulation among them is
Spanish coppers; some of these we saw
iating back hundred years Larger 8
money they have little use for and when !
ffered a s. gold piece upon a somewhat 7
arge transaction for supplies for the l
hip, they refused to take it, not because I
hey doubted the value of Uncle Sans {
money. but because if they went over to I
own to get it changed they would prob s
bly, not receive more than a dollar in I
eturn. They preferred TO receive a large
quantity of small coins to this gold.
Which they knew they would never get !
he full benefit Of /
The natives are small Of stature and Of G
light coffee color. Their heads are
mall, very few Of their hats being as
arse as No. Z They are very gentle in
heir manners. and. in every sense. pleas
Mt and inoffensive. They are prepared to :
7elcome the Americans with open arms
nd Will not be in the least difficult to :
oveTn- They do not know what the
ranchise is and do not care to exercise
;. They would be SATISFIED with any gov /,