The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-01-24

we having beaten it five days. Two
more transports are due to arrive here
soon; one has the Tennesseeans.
On Saturday morning I came ashore
on a small river steamer. W. came up
the Pasig river. I Gm 10Y t the hos
pital with a dislocated shoulder and
have a splendid opportunity of seeing
the city. As We came up the river l
noticed a warship. which mad been
burned considerably. and upon inquiry
l learned it was one of SPANS ships
which ran up against De Ey's fleet and
was sunk. But we have raised it. We
went up the river one and one half
miles; then we came to a suspension
vehicles were passing. As I arrived at
the hospital, I was impressed with the
way in which Spain has built her
houses. The hospital buildings form
a hollow square, with tropical trees
and flowers growing in the square.
The buildings are made of stone, brick,
ana tile; are one story high, with
plenty Of room. When the American
soldiery came here, and took posses
sion, the streets Of the city were very
dirty, but they hired natives for g. so
month to clean them up, and now
they are in much better shape, but
could be cleaner. I took dollar of
money and got two dollars Mexican for
It. lt nearly tires n out 20 carry so
much weight. OIe dollar in Mexican
or FliiplnOs VIII buy mUre here Cnan
one dollar In American will buy in the
States. We soldiers get SIG 90 a month,
so we can take it to the bank, which
will give US two for ore, 80 we really
get $32 40. We can buy a chicken
meal for zoe. Mexican, or TO-. Ameri
can; cigars that sell in the United
States for 10c. each can be bought here
for q. each; large cocoanuts sell for
2 for Sc ; large oranges are worth 1c.
each in Mexican money monkeys sell
for 75c. United States moneg. Several
Of my comrades have bought monkeys,
which they will take home. Parrots
are plentiful, but a good talker-I
mean on the Bryan order-coss $25
On yesterday evening 1 took a trip
up the Paslg river, a distance of about
Is miles, to a large lake of fresh water.
On our way up we saw many STRANGE
things: The first of much Importance
was the mansion Of the late Spanish
governor general. It is 10 occupied
by United States Ulcers aud soldiers.
A little furGher up we saw the insurgent
guard was on duty, and as we would
pass them they would salute and we
boys thought 1t sporG to return it.
Their bugli S sound different from ours,
being keen, while ours are coarse. The
natives live in small, curious huGs,
built of bamboo, and, in some cases,
built in the edge OF the river. Tney
use four sticks of bamboo, which are
driven in the mad, and extend two
feet above the water; then make a
small floor, about eight feet square ana
cover 1t with leaves, the whole being
O&4PSGC ~ S@A4OOOg lucy A0N
many small towns built along this riv-
er, with ell houses small and Quilt four
feet high from the ground; It is said
they build them off the ground 30
snakes can't come IN.
The Filipinos have a language OF
their own, which is different from
Spanish.
There are many water bufAloes mere.
Natives use Gh0m for hauling, hltching
them to a carG with two wheels. They
wade INTO the water to eat grass. There
are few COWS hero, and q good dairy
would pay.
Ram falls here two-thirds of the
time; it is we'll that it does, other
wise the heat would be unbeerable.
Mosquitoes are very bad eve must
sleep Under netting), and the common
house fly ls here by regiments.
Natives understand something OF
electricity, but are slow workmen.
These people don't know anything
of washing machines, and wneu they
wash clothes. they get Ia the edge OF
the riv,r take a small stone and peat
the clothes. Some roll up the Clothes,
slap them down on a stone until they
are perfectly clean. OF course lC
wears out the clothes.
Sugarcane, rice, cCf3e, pineapples
and peanuts are grown here. firmly
believe there are fortunes TO be made
here if Uncle Sam holds these islands.
In the mountains there is much gold,
but where the metal 10, there d wells a