Evening star., 1899-02-01

Col. Tirona considered the information of
sufficient rclia bility to justify him in re-
garding the Philippine independence as as
sured. and warfare in the island at an end.
For this reason he proceeded to relinquish
the military command he held over the
provinces, and to place this power in the
hands Of civil officer elected by the peo-
pie. This officer also made a speech in
which he thanked the disciplined military
forces and their colonel for the service
they had rendered the province, and as
sured them that the work they had begun
would be perpetuated by the people of the
province, where every man, woman and
child stood ready to take up arms TO de-
fend their newly-won liberty, and to resist
with the last drop OF their blood the at
tempt of any nation whatever to bring
them back to their former state of depend
ence. His speech was very impassiOned.
He then knelt, placed his hand on an open
Bible, and took the oath of office.
We were Hospitality entertained at the
Aparri: two balls We're given in our honor.
The town has population of 2O,oo inhab-
itants. 1t has many handsome houses and
several well-detined streets. The military
force stationed here consists Of 300 soldiers,
in addition to which the harbor has the
protection of the gunbOat Philippine which
carries two guns of a caliber of about
three inches There are no Spaniards here.
with the exception of two or three mer-
chants; one of these, representing the COM
pany of the steamer Saturnas, we have
met. He is pursuing his business entirely
unmolested.
We left Aparri November on the steam
er Oslo. Before leaving Col. Tirona pro-
Vided us with letter directed to Col. Tino
at Nigan, in the province of Ilocus Sur;
or, in the event of his absence from that
town, to the commandante.
Gave Up Their Arms.
We were delayed at Magsingal until the
early evening, waiting for answer from
the commandante. He brought the answer
himself, in handsome carriage drawn by
four horses. He had with him a copy of
the order he had just received from the
Philippine secretary of war This order
granted liberty to persons OF any nation,
except Spain, to travel at will through the
islands, under certain restrictions, viz: That
they could not carry arms, nor approach
within 200 meters OF a fertilization, nor
make any plans or take photographs of
them. In compliance with this order We
We're allowed to proceed; but We're request
ed to give up all our arms, including our
reVolVers. We went on to Nigan that
night, accompanied by the commandante
and five other officers who had assembled
at Masingal
We remained at Vigan all next day No
vember Il. 1t had rained during the night
rendering impossible part of the road to
the next town. We walked through the
town and visited the houses of several
trades people. At one of these houses We
heard the first and only definite complaint
which came to our ears during the entire
journey on the part of the natives against
the present government. These people COM
planned of the taxes imposed upon them
and even went so far to state that they
preferred the Spanish government. This
statement was made in the presence OF
party of six natives, and was acquiesced
to by all; they We're all however, of the
same family.
In going from TaRudin to Bangor We
passed from the province of Ilocus Sur into
that of Union. The province of Ilocus Sur
raises principally rice, tobacco, sugar. cat
tie and sheep. The tobacco is of an inferior
quality, being coarSer and stronger than
that raised in Isabella and Caeayan. The
cultivation of cocoanuts is profitable and is
increasing. Goats and pigs are raised in
great numbers. Many of the people are en-
gagged in the weaving Of cotton from which
they make cloth, towels, etc. In the noun
tains there are mines of copper sulphur
and gold; but these We have not seen.
A Young BriSadier General
AT San Fernando we met Colonel Tino.
commander of the military district embrac-
ing the provinces Of North and South Ilo-
COS, Union, Abra, Lepanto, Bontoc and Ben
get This officer had received his commits
sion as brigadier general three days before
our arrival he is twenty-one years old
We were received politely by this officer
not cordially. He expressed several times
his suspicion with regard to the object of
our journey. He asked several times if we
knew how to make maps and plans; also
why We were not in uniform. We had sent
word to this officer that We desired to visit
the province Of Benguet taking the trail
from San Fernando. He showed us an un-
signed telegram purporting to be from the
central government instructing him not to
permit the American officers to reconnoiter
any further in the district. For this reason
he said. he could not permit US to visit
Benguet We, accordingly, left the town