The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-08-04
EN- ROUTE TO MANILA.
w. G. Masters Writes an Interesting
Letter on Board Ship.

Chas. NJ Masters has received an in
teresting letter from his brother, w. g..
Masters, who recently went to the
Philippine Islands to take position in
the government postal service. AS it
will prove of general interest, we pub
lish it in full:
On Board Grant, June 81, 80.
Dear Chas: After two days stay in
Honolulu to coal ships, we started on
our way the 9th and expect to reach
Manila about the 2Sth. l had very
pleasant time while in Honolulu. A
strangers first impression of the city is
one of surprise to find a modern city
set out in the middle of the Pacific,
with all the comforts and conveniences
of civilization, but little different from
many American cities. American
goods are on display and American
money is used exclusively, The streets
are nearly all of macadam and some of
the business blocks are very good, built
of brick and stone. While the native
population predominates, there are
many Chinese, japanese. Portuguese,
Americans and English, the entire
foreign population being nearly half of
the total 100000. There is considerable
manufacturing done there, several
large sugar mills, and the shipping in
terests are large. About 40 vessels
were in the harbor the day we arrived,
including the Philadelphia, Admiral
Kautz's flagship Money is very plenty
and beggar is never seen All enter
prises are taken hold of by home CAPT
tai and no encouragement is given to
outside investors Sugar, rice, coffee,
bananas, pine apples, cattle and sheep
are the principal products of the
islands. There are many beautiful
drives, parks and residences. Every
tree and shrub seemed to be in bloom.
At one place l saw a stone wall several
yards in length covered with night
blooming cereus. The climate, [ am
told, is delightful the thermometer
never falling below IS degrees or going
above So degrees winter or summer.
While here l had the pleasure of meet.
ing j. K. Brown, relative .of Mr.. p
K. Wiser's He is Chinese inspector at
this port.
l took carriage drive up Nauanee
Pail, an extinct volcano about six miles
from the city. There is splendid
view from the top and it is also inter
esting from the fact that here Kane
hameha | in the beginning of the pre-
sent century drove hundreds of the
Islands defenders over precipice hun.
dreds of feet down. There is splendid
surf bathing about 2 miles down the
beach. | took it in both afternoons,
also rode in the much famed surf boats.
They are long narrow canoe in which
you are padded out mile or more by
Kanaka boatman and then catching a
large wave you are carried in on top OF
it at railroad speed. It's very exciting
and beats toboggan slide all hollow
The Kanakas or natives are splendid
swimmers. While a mile or more from
harbor the boat was surrounded by
boys to 10 years old who would dive
for nickels when thrown into the water
and they seldom failed to get them. I
went through the palace, now used as
the executive building. Just across
the street is the Judiciary building.
1t was formerly the home of the high
chief. In front of this is very fine
statue of King Kamehameha, the first
king to bring all the Islands under sub
lection. One evening | attended re-
ception in a part of the old palace
where the late king played his poker
games but now used by the citizens to
entertain visitors. The queens piano
made of native woods, also the kings
and queens chairs, are still in use
there. made it point to sit In the
seat of royalty even if it were of a
monarchy now defunct. / saw Presi-
dent Dole, but Queen Lii is in the
States. I was much struck with the
intelligence of the natives. Nearly all
speak English. The school SYSTEM is
first class and includes high school
and two colleges. Nearly all the
Christian denominations have churches
here, not excepting the Salvation
Army.
The voyage is becoming very mono.
tonous and shall be glad when reach
my destination. The weather, how.
ever has been fine, only one rough day
since leaving Frisco. Last night about
ten o'clock passed the first of Uncle
Sans new possessions. 1t was the
most northernly of the Ladrone Islands.