Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-04


their own present status. One or two
of them had heard of the Congress at
Paris. but no one had any idea as to
It's object. nor as to it's relation to
themselves. They were we'll grounded
on only three points-the destruction
of the Spanish squadron in Manila har-
Dor. the surrender of Manila and the
declaration by the Philippine govern
ment at Malolos of the independence of
the islands and the establishment of n
republican form of government with
Sn Aguinaldo as president. Even on
these points the details they had re-
ceiVed were very inaccurate.
A WARNING DISREGARDED.
We had been warned by the officials
of the last town that San Jose must
inevitably prove the end of our jour
ney. There Is no road for 80 miles be-
yond this point and in this season the
natives consider the trail impdssable
to white men. Very few of the natives
at san Jose, however. ten men willing
TO accompany us as packbearers, and
with these we started the next morn
ing. The trail-preFed to be little
better than represented. Twenty-four
hours more of rain would have made
ut least three mountains streams i'm
passable. The trail. moreover. Is eX-
tremely intricate. 1t leads for half a
mile along shoal in n small river. and
follows the beds of mountain streams
for many times that distance. Rush
ing water frequently knee deep on the
horses. covered these stretches of the
trail at the time we passed. On lan4
grass and underbrush grew thickly
over the trail and concealed 1t for
considerable distances. Our guide had
spent his life In this district, and had
Travelled the trail very often. He de-
waited from it twice that day, however,
n nd l,ud In, int,
1t. During the insurrection compa-
ny of Spanish soldiers had been sent
over this trail. Our guide pointed out
many spots where numbers of them
had been ambushed and slain. Accord
ing to the statements of our guide, very
few of this Spanish force lived to reach
the town of Carranglan. 1t is I'M
doubtedly a trail that Il few men could
hold against heavy odds; 1t is the first
of this nature we have seen. 1t is
very hily. and the ascents are steep.
crooked and surrounded by heavy trees
and underbrush. Numerous rapid
streams were crossed during the day.
The packbearerS at first refused TO
cross two streams that were deeper
and more rapid than the other. They
required both encouragement and ex-
ample before they could be induced to
make the attempt. 1t rained Hercely
all day.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUED.
The American officers were received
coolly by the Philippine military OFF,
GERS at Carranglan, owing to their lack
of passports. but were permitted to
proceed after drying their mouldy bag
gage, in the face of the predictions that
they had worse rivers to cross, and
other obstacles as well. 1t was plainly
impossible for them to accomplish their
journey in the months leave they had
taken. SO they mailed back letters ask
Ing extension until November Goth.
Leaving Carranglan the Presidente
Local insisted upon their taking n
guard of II soldiers. with a sergeant,
Ito protect us against the Igorrotcs, or
savages, that are said to infest the hills
between this town and Artao."
A SHORT STOP.
We arrived at Aritao shortly before
shutdown. broad branch of the Rio
Magat separated us from this town.
There was a "banca" or native dugout
canoe, however, i'll which men and bag
gage were taken to the other side,
while the horses were swum across at
point higher up the stream. These
facilities for crossing streams were al
ways available. when necessary. dur
ing the remainder of our journey. In
the mountains and highlands through
which we passed in the last two or
three days, there are extensive forests
The forests are not homogeneous. but
contain many different classes of trees
the timber of which is in many cases
valueless. or the timber which we
naNe- tha-f44pStt- VI tiea-etf-tffc-ir-
land is the "mulawe"; so called in both
Spanish and Tegla. This is tall
straight tree with very few branches:
the bark Is very light in color, but the
wood is very dark and close grained
ana resists water and weather. 1t is
much used for boats and for the floors
and exposed uprights of houses. There
is also much bamboo, some of which
has been cut. The heavier trees are
as yet unmolested. We saw no signs of
saVaSeS nor OF poisonous snakes,
against which we had been warned nv
the natives of the district. In goina
from Carranglan to Aritao, we went
from the province to Nueva LEILA to
that of Nueva Vizcaya.
We spent the night at Bamhanr
From Ragagag to the next town. Cor
don (called Estella on the may) there
is only mountain trail. This trail IS
infested at certain seasons by Icorro
ties. who waylay and murder persons
travelling in small and unarmed mar
ties. Several murders have occurrnd
here recently Three small parties of
natives with horses and buffaloes had
been waiting at Baggage for several
days for an opportunity to travel with
military escort. They joined us next
day.
DETAINED AT CARIG.
We left next morning, October 24th.
for Carig. intending to reach Echa que
that night. We were escorted by six
soldiers and the lieutenant. Our de-
lay in this town lasted seven DAYS.
from noon October LIST to noon October
31st.
During our detention at Carig we
were not treated as prisoners wy ,,aro
informed that If we wished 70 ratnrn
To Manila by the Sarao re-, Il - -, =