Evening star., 1899-02-01


argument that had proved so efficient at
Bayambang He replied that 1t would be
the custom only in time of war. He classed
this period AZ a time of war. and the con-
gress at Paris as mere Suspension or nos
tilitieS at the end of which their nation
might again be involved in war our re!a-
tions with Sn. Villa We're mainly official.
His manner toward us was brusque, ana at
times diecOurteous. He was extremely sus-
pcious of US, particularly of the diary that
we kept from day to day, and of cam
era that formed part of our equipment. lie
became slowly convinced. hiWever, that we
were not seeking for military information.
After he had assured himself of this he
told US that the colonel feared that we
We're making maps of the country. During
the rest of our journey we We're entirely
free from the taint of this suspicion. Ac-
cording to Sn. Villas statement, the charge
had first been made by the Spanish prison
ers who have never ceased to warn the ma
tives that American troops would come
into the province to conquer them, when
they would find themselves in worse hands
than before they rebelled against Spain
Echague is somewhat larger and more
pretentious than Carig 1t has guard OF
twenty soldiers. From this town we went
by boat to Ilagan. sending the servants
with the horses by the road.
The City of IIngan.
We arrived at Ilagan November l. This
town is the capital city of the province OF
Isabella. 1t has a population OF between
10000 and 1900 inhabitants, and has man!
large wooden houses rooted with corfuSdt-
ed iron, giving it rather European ap-
pearance. 1t is Wei situated for derehse'
being at the junction of the Rio Plhaca,
nauan with the Rio Grande. 1t Is protected
by these wide streams from all points eH-
cept the south. To attack the city by lana
from the south 1t would be necessary 70
bring troops up the eastern side OF the no
Grande, where there no roads. Inc
site of the city Is raised, moreover, ABOUT
40 feet above the level Of the river. IN lhls
town we We're entertained at the mousse VI d
wealthy citizen. The first night after our
arrival a ball was given in our hOnoF, al
which there We're over fifty young ladies'
and an equal number of well-dresscd ana
gentlemanly men. The ball was well con-
Quoted: the dances We're Spanish The next
evening we were invited to the theater 10
see two one-act Spanish comedies, presented
by the society young people of the town;
They were both excellently given, ana
spoke well for the intelligence of the play
erS.
Ne desired to continue our journey from
Ilagan to Tuguegarao, and from that point
across the mountains to the western coast
This request was wired by Sn. Villa to COL
Tirona at Aparri. That officer replied that
it would not be possible to make the pro-
posed trip at this of the year. lie
repeated his invitation to visit Aparrl, take
a steamer from that port, disembark at a
northern point on the western coast ana
continue our journey south by land. Ihls
arrangement was accepted as the most sat
isfactory one left open to us.
Some Spanish Prisoners.
There are many Spanish prisoners in this
town-civil officers, priests, soldiers. Eighty
four priests We're paraded in the street for
our inspection, only four or five of them
wearing robes of their office. Nearly all OF
them wore long hair and boards. They ap-
peared in good health. and we could detect
no evidence of maltreatment. These priests
had been assembled from different parts of
the province. They are kept under stricter
guard than either of the other two classes
of prisoners, for the reason that the native
officials fear that if permitted to go among
the people they VIII use the influence they
possess through their position In the church
to incte them against the Philippine gov
ernment. We also met Don Jose Perez,
Spanard who had previously been governor
of the island. He was well dressed and
seemed to be enjoying all the ordinary COM
forts.
In these two days we passed out of the
province of Isabella, and entirely through
the province of Cagayan. These are the
leading tobacco provinces In the island.
An idea of their wealth can be obtained
from the fact that, before the Philippine
insurrection, three million dollars in tobac-
co alone came yearly from the one prov
ince of Isabella. The tobacco of this prov
ince is preferred for expectation to that of
Cayagan. Both provinces raise also sugar,
rice, cocoa and coffee. Cattle also are
shipped from Aparrt..
Think Independence is Assured.
The steamer Saturnas. which had left the
harbor the day before our arrival, brought
news from Hong Kong papers that the
senators from the United States at the con-
gress of Paris favored the independence of
the islands, with an American protectorate.