The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1899-10-14
FOND OF CHIN'IAMEN.
Philippine Cannibals Prefer Them
& to White Men,
-.'#s.- ST.,
CuriOxS" Customs and Appearance Of
Some of the Denixena of Our
Newly Acquired
~:
.sssQs Islands.

900 cannibals, residing principally in
the northeastern provinces of Sunigas
and Bisby, in the island Of Mindanao.
This. fact, however, need not serious
~ deter prospective settlers starting
out to grow up with the new country"
for humiliating thought may be to
our pride as race, yet it is reassuring
to learn that the Philippine cannibal,
like his savage cousins of the north
coast of Australia and New Guinea,
does not fully appreciate the white man
as dish.
Indeed, it is asserted that he infinite
ly prefers nice, young, rice-fed China
man, only partaking of white man.
when nothing better in the way of big,
game is to- be bagged-the white mans
flesh being too tough and too salt for
his fastidious taste.
In the island of Mindanao the canni-
balls belong chiefly to the two tribes
of the Monolos and Mandayas, inhabit
ing the valleys of the Agusan and
Salny rivers, respectively-a country
which is reported to be rich in gold,
quicksilver and other metals, and espe-
cially suitable for the raising of cof-
fee and cocoa plantations.
These cannibal tribes of the Monolos
and Mandayas are of Biscayan origin,
a race of moderate height, with olive
compilations, broad noses, full lips and
coarse, straight, nearly black hair.
They speak dialect of a language
called Tagaloj, which seems to be itself
dialect of some other language not as
yet taught in the public schools of the
United States.
In disposition the Monolos, in par
ticular, are a fierce, warlike people,
ever on the lookout for pretext to
stir up trouble with their neighbors,
making slaves of their numerous cap
tives, and occasionally, when pig is
scarce, a dinner off their slaves.
As evidence of their martial spirit
there is custom extant among them
of comforting titles of distinction upon
those warriors who have killed 60 of
their enemies-a custom which, strange
as it may seem to the Monolos, will
probably regarded by Uncle Sam as
too much of an anomaly to be permitted
to exist in any part of his d'ominions.
To those who contemplate visiting
the Agusan country in the course of the
next two or three years, it may be in
teresting as we'll as instructive, to be
made aware of the fact that the stran-
ger can tell by the manner of his recep-
ton whether or not he is likely to be
! come the chief dish of a feast.
If his welcome is cold, and he is
churlishly urged to go on his way, by
the flight Of an arrow. let him not COM
plain of the Monolos' inhospitality, for
that is the worst that may come to
him; but if on the other hand he is ef-
fusively greeted, let him beware, as he
is surely destined for an improvised
oven.
And in the latter event the procedure
is unmistakable. The stranger is cor
daily invited to sit on the same mat
with the chief, and paid the greatest
Difference.
He is then served with dinner COM
posed of such seasonable delicacies as
the Monolo cooks can produce-not a
hint being given, not a word being said
about anything unpleasant taking
place subsequently,; after which, with
many expressions of qualification at his
unexpected visit, he is conducted by the
to pass the night.
Then. as the Irishman would say, be-
gins the "divilment." Once securely in
side and asleep, the Monolo hosts quiet
ly pile heaps of fagots around the hut
of their unsuspectipg guest, and at
last, applying torch, bake him to their
own taste, without giving him a chance
to utter a protest.
These Mandayas have a quaint and
interesting custom of selecting bride.
| When young man has made his
choice of a helpmate, she is dispatched
one morning about sunrise into the jun
| gle to hide.
| About an hour later the lover sets
forth in his quest, when, if successful
in finding her before shutdown. they are
considered betrothed; but if she re-
turns alone at that hour the match is
declared off, and the young man must
make another selection.
This would seem to leave the final
decision in great part to the Mandaya
girl, for if she approves of the young
man she can doubtless easily find way
of informing him of the tree behind
which she intends to hide; or otherwise
the jungle would surely be good place
to escape him.
Cannibalism is, or has been, practiced
in nearly all the islands contiguous tc
the Philippines.
That the United States will permit
cannibalism to become factor in Phil.
ippine state politics, that we may short.
ly read of a native gentleman running
in the interest of cannibal party fol
the office of mayor of Zamboanja, the
capital of Mindanao, is hardly prob
able; but that so considerable a body
of Americans will finally relinquish the
practice without the mysterious disap.
pearance of a few pioneers, is matte,
for prospective pioneers in that coun