Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1898-10-01
n LETTER FROM MANyyA
Descripfirc of Life and Manner n,
Living of Mattress, Etc.
CAN'T At GuERTAL DE MAI,Ayv

0""hiia Is ours. and
need not tell YOU how easily ". can
tured 1t. A few shots from the m.n.o,.
war, and the advance of infantry ala
the work. But this much I will ,au
you; Had Americans been iu control
The combined armies OF Europe eould
not have forced surrender until food
anu ammunition were exhausted.
Manila Is the best fortified CITY I
ever saw. With bold and fearless re.
sistance we would have been DAYS, and
maybe, weeks taking il. AT first SIGHT
and In the confusion incident TO the
surrender, am not fayorably Impress.
ed by wha, see. Later on may see
things differently.
As understand history, the Philip
pines were outposts of civilization be.
fore Columbus discovered America
But IL has made slow progress In the
arts and sciences and In the civilization
and enlightenment of its people.
The climate reminds me OF that Dor.
tion OF our home country bordering
on the Gulf OF Mexico, and the growth
of the forests il somewhat like that of
southern Louisiana. Mahogany aud
bamboo are the most valuable OF all
the forest growth. All residences are
built Of these. The ornamental trees
are beautiful and the shrubs are of
beautiful foliage, but do not grow the
rich and fragrant blossoms like Amer.
lean shrubs. Vines flourish here lux.
nrlanily. The fruits are varied, but
none are as good as our home growth.
3ananas aud eonosnuts are the best we
get.
We reached the islands In the rainy
season, and II rains By the day and
night. The rains OF two or three DAYS
properly distributed would produce
crops in Idaho too large for all grams.
ries. But they tell here there are sea.
sons when 1, does NOT rain as it does
nov.
The residences, generally, are bull,
u hamboo, with mahogany floors and
doors They are square IN strn clure
and are from two 20 three stories high.
The upper stories project over the
lower ones, 10 as TO form shelter be.
LOW. The wlndoA lights are OF shell
about the size Of mica sheets In heat.
log stove, and about as transparent
Some windows hsye as many as la Of
these pancs. All The windows are slid.
Ing and the structure Of The upper
chambers are such that three sides
can b- opoacd and make them az airy
At a porch or serhnds. Very few Of
these residences have facilities for
cooking.
The natives are Of the color Of the
shoshone Indians on the Fort Hall res
crvai.on aud sru under size. No males
sIii weigh l51 pounds and but few fe-
males loo pounds. All animal life, a.
far as sccu. Is smaller than the same
species In America. The horses will
not exceed 200 pounds aud the oxen no,
over 500 or 90 pounds.
The natives dress ihiniy NJ this sea-
zon Of the year The males wear lawn
shirts and whlte cotton trousers, The
shirts are worn over their trousers,
which extend In length to the knees or
a little below. The females wear thin
shirt waists with one skirt aud sor,
Of all.around apron. Both men and
womeu go barefooted. Men wear straw
ha,s. the women 90 bareheaded.
The means Of freigh. and baggage
transportation are Of the simplest kind
All freiehts are carried In carts, drawn
hy ponies or by the water os--s specie
like an elephant In color and with
horns like rams horns. Ponies and
oxen are worked singly. The Chinese
coolies make the beet beasts OF burden.
Manila was a dead city, so far a
: busine - was concerned, from the tim'
: Dewey captured Cavita and the bay
: until We took sorcible possession Sat
urday. The 18th inst, aud business ha
not been resumed. Preparations are
being hurried to resume at once, anC
, we expect the bay filled with vessel
from Japan or China soon. 1t Is i'm
/. possible to buy what one wants at pres
ent. Chickens are valued at $500
dozen. eggs si.00 dozen and poiatoe
, lswee, and smalll at ) cents each out
arrival has been a blessing to the ma
,,Ives on the outside of the wall city
, The army has paid them $4,000 10
! bamboo cots alone-just one article.
We arc all In the dark as to wha
Q awaits US. Last mail from the unite'
! States brought letters OF June 2'th
Z aud papers OF July LIST. Cable conne'
a tious will soon be established ana the
I We will hear more and know more
We know nothing Of peace CONDITION
n with Spain.
!. Tell your readers that the laan
!, boys arc still In good health ana sp''
ia Wa have not lost man sihc