The Winslow mail., 1899-06-15
FOND OF CHINAMEN,
Philippine Cannibals Prefer Them
to White Men.
Curious Customs and Appearance OF
Some of the Denizena of Our
Newly Acquired
Islands.

transferred to the people of the United
States by the ratification of the treaty
of Paris, there is certainly the ques-
tionable one of numbering among sew
eral millions of new citizens some 3d.
900 cannibalg, residing principally in
the northeastern provinces of Sunigas
and Bisby in the island of Mindanao.
This fact, however, need not serious
ly deter prospective settlers starting
out to grow up with the new country"
for humiliating though it may be to
our pride as a race, yet it is reassuring
to learn that the Philippine cannibaI,
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 be 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, inhabt-
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,
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 a pretext to
stir up trouble with their neighbors,
making slaves of their numerous cap
tiyes, and occasionally, when pig is
scarce, dinner off their slaves.
AS evidence of their martial spirit
there is a 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 dominions.
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-
tion whether or not he is likely TO be
come the chief dish of 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 CT the Monolos' inhospitality, for
that is the worst that may come to
him; but if on the other hand he is eff
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 a dinner COM
posed Of such seasonable delicacies as
the Monolo cooks can produce-not
hint being given. not 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
chief in person to a new hut in which
to pass the night.
Then, as the Irishman would say, be-
gins the "divilment." Once securely in
side and asleep, the Monolo hosts quiet
of their unsuspecting guest, and at
last, applying torch, bake him to their
own taste, without giving him chance
to utter protest.
These Mandayas have quaint and
interesting custom of selecting bride.
When a young man has made his
choice of 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 sundown. 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 a good place
to escape him.
Cannibalism is, or has been, practiced
in nearly all the islands contiguous to
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
n the interest of a cannibal party for
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 few pioneers, is matter
for prospective pioneers in that coun-
try to ponder over.-Boston Globe.