The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-02-25
THE INTERIOR Of LUZON
DESCRIBED BY TWO AMERICAN
NAVAL OFFICERS.
The Country is Rich, No Barren nor
Unfertile Spots--Condition Of Span
ish Priests Held as Prisoners.

Inc country 10 hlCn, NO barren Hoi
Unfertile Spots-Condition Of Span
ish Priests Held as Prisoners.
Two young American officers, Pay
master w. b. Wilcox, who was here in
the Monadnock, and was well known,
and Cadet r. l.. Sargent, made tour
into Luzon lately. Concerning what
they saw they write as follows:
a start was made from Manila with
five servants eight horses and between
300 and 400 pounds of baggage, includ-
ing a camp outfit, two rifles and
shotgun with ammunition. For the
first five or six miles from Bayambang
we found the roads in good condition
and travelled with ease About 1880
o'clock in the morning we passed the
small town of Alcola. There were in
all twelve soldiers stationed I'm this
| town, i'm charge of a sergeant. They
were armed with Remington rifles
The travellers were treated courte-
ously at Rosales, where twenty soldiers
were stationed, though surprise was
| expressed at their lack of passports.
From Rosales to Humingan and on
| to San Jose our experiences of travel
were much the same as those already
described. Throughout this part of
| the province of Nueva Icaja almost
the only form of agriculture encourage
ed at present by the natives is rice
growing A little sugar is also raised.
| The land is also very rich. We en-
countered no barren nor unfertile
spots There were very few forests and
| practically no cattle. There are
great number of buffalo, and these are
of extreme utility. The principal la
Dor of the natives at this season of
the year is threshing rice.
I'm the villages of Humingan and Luz
pao there are few Spanish prisoners
priests, soldiers and civil officials.
We have seen representatives of each
| of these three classes In these towns.
We could detect no signs of i'll treat
ment nor of undue restriction. On the
contrary, they appeared to possess the
freedom of the towns in which they
lived.
NATIVE OFFICIALS.
The presidente local and other local
officials are native Filipinos. Most of
them have received a certain amount
of education at religious schools in Ma
Mia. They are intelligent men, and
are extremely eager to learn news OF
the outside world. Their knowledge Of
modern history and geography is eX-
tremely limited. and their ignorance Of
current events is surprising We
brought them their first definite infor-
nation with regard to Cuba and to
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 them
selves. They were well grounded on
only three ponts-the destruction of
the Spanish squadron in Manila har-
Dor. the surrender of Manila and the
declaration of the Philippine govern
ment at Malolos of the independence of
the islands and the establishment of
republican form of government, with
N a Even
these points the details they had re-
ceived We're very inaccurate.
SOME SPANISH PRISONERS.
There are many Spanish prisoners
in Ilagan-civl officers, priests, SOL
diers. Eighty-four priests were pa
raded in the street for our inspection
only four or five of them wearing the
robes of their office Nearly all of then
- wore long hair and boards" They APP
peared in good health, and we could
1 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 ma
tive officials fear that if permitted to
go among the people they will use
. the influence they possess through
, their position i'm the church to incite
them against the Philippine govern
I ment. We also met Don Jose Perez, a
} Spanard, who had previously been
! governor Of the island. He was well
dressed and seemed to be enjoying the
5 ordinary comforts.
In these two days we passed out of
the province of Isabella, and entirely
through the province of Cagayan
' These are the leading tobacco provin-
, ces in the island. An idea of their
wealth can be obtained from the fact
that before the Philippine instruction
three million dollars in tobacco alone
, came yearly from the one province OF
Isabella. The tobacco of this province
is preferred for expectation to that OF
Cayagan. Both provinces raise also
sugar, rice, cocoa and coffee. Cattle
also are shipped from Apart.
THE CITY OF ILAGAN.
This town is the capital city of the
province of Isabella 1t has a popula
ton of between 10000 and $4,000 in
habitants and has many large wooden
houses rooted with corrugated iron
giving it rather a European appear
ance. 1t is well situated for defence
being at the junction of the Rio Pima
canauan with the Rio Grande. 1t ID
protected by these wide streams from
all points except the south. To attack
the city by land from the south il
would be necessary to bring troops W
the eastern side of the Rio Grande
= where there are no roads. The site of
the city is raised, moreover about AZ
, feet above the level of the river. In
this town we were entertained at the
house of a wealthy citizen. The first
night after our arrival ball was CIV
en- in our honor, at which there were
over fifty young ladies and an equal
number of well dressed and gentle
manly men. The ball was well con-
Il mt nHs thn do ,fe,l, ",
next evening we We're invited to the
theater to see two one-act Spanish
comedies, presented by the society
young people of the town. They were