Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-03-24
HOME LIFE OF F|L|p|Nos
characteristics and Customs OF
the Native Population.
THE PRIMITIVE BAMBOO sHAoKs
Queer Dwelling Places of the Rural
Communities In the Vicinity Of Ma
Beast Of Burden-Dress of the Ma
tive Women. d.
1899. by the Author.l

In order to form a fair idea of native
life in the Philippines n must visit
the Filipino in his bamboo shack, with
the Filipino sonora and senorita and
that most interesting of youngsters in
the world. the Filipino pickaninny,
who seems as content in a bamboo bas-
ket on the mothers head as in the
wickerwork cradle or hammock. To
American eyes the native home life
presents many unique and interesting
phases. There is a wide difference be-
tween city and country life in the Phil
ippines, and it is in the rural sections
that the Filipino is seen in his natural
ness and simplicity. Here. as in most
other tropical countries, the houses are
built with steep matched roofs, with
the caves running nearly down to the
ground. About Manila bay the native
shacks are built of bamboo, and there
are many villages of these queer
houses. Bacoor, Paranique, Pasig, Tun-
gallo, Maricaban, Malaban and q hun
bred other towns are scattered about
the bay, and in all of these the natives
are thickly crowded.
A native shack is usually only one
story high, with the floor raised three
feet from the ground, which is neces-
sary on account of the swampy condi-
ton of the land. All about the native
huts are piles of dirt and filth, and
everywhere the most insanitary condi-
tions prevail. There are usually three
or four generations quartered in each
shack. Aside from the natives of all
sizes and ages, from the gray haired
padre and sonora down to the diminu-
tive pickaninny, the goats and other an
imals are sheltered within. The water
buffalo is housed in an adjoining shack.
Before we reached here our men had
heard of the Philippine water buffalo
and had formed various ideas Of the ami
NAL. When one was first sighted, we
were not a little surprised. The water
buffalo, which is the Filipino's chief
beast of burden. closely resembles an
OK in size and form, though it's horns
are larger and more widely spread apart.
The natives are frequently seen bathing
the buffalo in the waters of the Pasig,
and to us it was a novel performance.
The animals disport themselves in the
stream in real amphibious fashion, JUS
tifying the title of water buffalo.
In a native village nearly all the peo-
pie are related as a result of the system,
of intermarriage. One family usually
settles down in some place apart from
the others, and as the family increases
the town or hamlet grows, new shacka
being added as they are needed. In the
original marriage customs Of the natives
the usuages of Pacific islanders were
closely followed. While some Of the
primitive customs have been lost sight
Of in the recent changes, many Of them
still prevail. Like Jacob of old, the
Filipino lover is still required to do 9
term Of service for the father Of his in.
tended bride, and the courtship is filled
with trying ceremonies and unpleasant
vicissitudes for the young couple before
they wed and obtain a place in thu
household.
Great simplicity prevails in all phases
of Filipino life. A native will live upo1