Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-04-08

most remarkable collection Of Islands
In tho world. In that archipelago are
no less than LOO different Islands. and
among those i.io0 islands are to be
found no less than so dlstlnc, tribes.
That Ear travelled American or Euro
pcan tourist who visits the philippines
always. Of course. goes TO Manila. per
hapa makes trip or two Into the IN
terror Of I.uEon and II Of especial rowing
propensltles goes on to the towns OF
fioiio and cebu. This practically In the
extent OF Philippine travelling. In other
words, II IL the custom TO visit two OF
three Islands out Of 100 and then turn
westward with the idea that the oppot-
tunl,ics OF the Philippines have been
from the standpoint Of the sightsccr
exhausted.
Even those naturaiists and ethnolo-
glsts who have visited the archipelago
for scientific purposes have confined
their researches chiefly TO the few larger
and better known islands, not caring 10
risk their Hcalpa among unknown bar
bafiana. The result has been that while
We have come into poaHesHion OF a mass
Of material about LuKon, Panay and
Mlndanao almost nothing II known OF
the smaller and more remote Islands
over which the expanding tail feathers
OF the American eagle will soon extend
n IL commonly Understood that spain
had accomplished an absolute and COM
plcte conquest OF the Philippines, while
in reality she has held actual sway over
only one.scvcnth OF the archipelago. In
many instances Spanish domination cs.
tended only along the Hcacoast fringe OF
an island, into whose mountainous IN
terror the none too vigorous spanish
soldier had no rush desire 10 penetrate
Merchant ships and mail steamers CON
nected with many OF the smaller la
lands. but rare indeed were the advcn-
furious spirits who attempted nm invca-
tigation OF the character Of the little
known hintcrland natives. about whom
marvellous tales were told.
Among those half mythical Tiiiplno-
there are. for instance. the Davatawi.
the most numerous and at the same
time perhaps the most curious ~ such
OF the Philippine races M rtlll wallow
in the nlonsh Of harb-rism. They occu-
ny BnsiIan and the northern Islands Of
the euiu group. besides the littofal sec
ton OF southern Mindanao. and are e.
tlmated 20 number almost 100000. From
n physical standpoint the race II ons Of
the nneat 60 be found In the east.
though II must he confessed that II In
made up Of natives who are harbarian-
Of the lowest moral type In stature
the men are seldom under six feet In
height. but slight and athletic In build,
They are extremely active and cour-
ngcouH and areahle ~ endure the great.
est hardship aud fatigue. In fact they
nrr not unlike our own American rcd
man. being characterized by d skin that
N extremely dark. small eyes and pro-
truding check bones. Like the Indian
too. they are improyidcnt and reckless
II the morrow. with the very natural
result that disastrous famine carrie,
IN some thousands NJ them every few
years. The only settled villages and
towns ~ the Davntnwi are those alonr
the aeacoaat. Tor II must be remembered
that all these ISLANDERS are invoterat'
pirates.
The suiu islanders In general mr.,
equally energetic In the pursuit ~ tn,
gentle art Of pirncy. They are excellent
seamen and handle their small print
tive sailing craft with a dexterity thai
IN wonderful 10 behold. The pirates n
the auluH have terrorlxcd the cntlr'
Malay archipelago for many years nn'
are by no means yet wiped out Thu
Davatnwi 70 about In most formidable
looking war proaH and range the Phil
lpplnc waters from Panay % norneo
on their rolllckinE punitive expedition
they carry on IN much the same man
ner as did those HIGHT hearted DaniHl
and Saxon pirates who were wont 4
visit the shores of britain. almost ?
centuries ngo. They ruthlossly burr
yiliagcs, slaughter unoffending victims
capture a. many slaves aH convcnien
and carry on what plunder falls int
their hands. Even the fierce tribes o
norneo are not safe against these re
fiodlc predatory excursions, which uAu
ally take place twice q year. during IN
spring and fall monsoons. Indeed, be
tween the Dayatawi and the nero
tribes Of eastern norneo there seems
exist some perpetual fcud. The eoniln
ued warfare has resulted In a great pro
pondernnce OF females In these differon
belligerent tribes and hence the necessl
~ for polygamy.
The costume of these plratlcal wal
riorA IN often a ridiculous cape Of Hma
iron disks hanging forward from III
shoulders and leaving the back unco,
cred. The head In also often lncanod
a huge and ugly mask. generally rel
resenting some animal head IN outlin
They are fond OF personal adornmen
and tattoolng Is carried on eNlenslvel
Some OF the more influential memhei
OF a tribe are often covered from hea
10 foot with grotesque and highly co
ored tnttoolnEr, while enormous orni
menis OF iron are worn on dlnereI
parts OF the body.
The members OF this tribe are q
true IshmAclites Of the east, The
hand l. against everybody, and over
body's hand In against them, Moors
Moros, the Spaninrds called them, 10
cause they We're seen TO be Mussulmi
In faith. Tho experience OF Spain seen