The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-19
SOME AMERICAN CANNlBALS.
THEY LIVE IN THE UNEMPLOYED
WILDS OF MINDANAO.

Conferred on Those Warriors who
Have KILLED sixty Enemies-HOw
They Receive Prospective Victims.
Cooked AIive-CuriOus Marriage
Ceremonies,
Washington, March 17.-Among many
presumable benefits transferred to the peo-
pie of the United States by the ratifica-
ton of the treaty of Paris, there is GER
tainly the questionable one Of numbering
among several millions OF new citizens,
some 10000 caunibals residing principally
in the northeastern provinces of Sunigas
and Bisby in the Island of Mindanao.
This fact, however. need not seriously
deter prospective settlers starting out to
grow up with the new country" for, hui
initiating though il may he to our pride
as race yet il Is reassuring to learn
that the Philippine canuibal like his saw
age cousins of the north coast of Australia
and New Guinea, does not fully appreciate
the white man as a dish. Indeed, il is
asserted that he infinitely prefers a nice,
young. rice-fed Chinaman, only partakng
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 Mlndanao the cannlbals
belong chiefly to the two tribes of the
Monolos and Mandayas inhabitng the
valleys of the Agusan and Salny rivers
respecuvely-a country which is reported
to be rich in gold, quicksilver and other
metals, and especially suitable for the
raising of coffee and cocoa.
Personal Appearance.
These cannibal tribes of the Monolos and
Mandayas are of Biscayan origin, race
of moderate hight. with olive complications.
broad noses, full lips, and coarse, straight,
nearly black hair. They speak a dialect
of a languages called Tagaloj, which seems
to be itself dialect of some other Ian
guage not as yet taught in the public
schools of the United States.
In disposition the Monolos. In particular,
are a fierce, warlike people, ever on the
lookout for a pretext to stir up trouble
with their neighbors. making slaves OF
their numerous captives, and occasionally,
when pig is scarce, a dinner off their
slaves. AS evidence of their martial spirit
there is custom extant among them OF
comforting titles of distinction upon those
warriors who have killed sixty of their
enemes-a custom which, strange as 1t
may seem TO the Monolos will probably
be regarded by Uncle Sam as too much
of an anomaly to be permitted to exist I'm
any part of his dominions.
A Prospective Victim.
To those who contemplate visiting the
Augusan country in the course of the next
two or three years 1t may be interesting,
as we'll az instructive, to be made aware
of the fact that the stranger can tell by
the manner of his reception whether or
not he is likely 10 become the chief dish
of feast
If his welcome is cold, and he is churl
ishly urged to go on his way by the flight
of an arrow, let him not complain of the
Monolos' inhosptality, for that is the
worst that may come to him; but II on
the other hand he is effusively greeted,
let him beware, as he Is surely destined
for an improvised oven.
And in the latter event the procedure
is unmstakable The stranger is cordially
invited to sit on the same mat with the
chief, and paid the greatest difference. He
is then served with dinner composed of
such seasonable delicacies as the Monolo
cooks can produce-not hint being given,
not word being said about anything I'M
pleasant taking place subsequently; after
which, with many expressions of graft
hcation at his unexpected visit, he is con-
Quoted by the chief in person to a new
hut in which to pass the night.
Then, as the Irishman would say, be-
gins the "diviment" once securely in
side and asleep, the Monolo hosts quietly
pile heaps of faggots round the hut of
their unsuspecting guest, and at last APP
plying torch, bake him to their own
taste without giving him chance to ut
ter a protest
Curious Marriage Ceremonies.
These Mandayas have quaint and in
terestlng custom of selecting bride.
When q young man has made his choice
OF helpmate, she is dispatched one morn
ing about sunrise into the jungle to hide.
About an hour later the lover sets forth
In her quest. when II successful In finding
her before shutdown they are
considered betrothed: hut If she
returns 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 IL she APP
proves of the young man she can doubt
less easily find a 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.
Cannbalism is. or has been, practiced
In nearly all the Islands contiguous 20
the Philippines. In Sumatra, Borneo,
New Guinea and further off in Australia
New Zealand and the Fiji Islands IL has
fourshed at one period or another It's
origin in the South Seas appears to have
been due TO three principal causes-seml-
religious, as In the case of the Maoris Of
New Zealand. semi-judicial among the Ma
lays, with whom the Sulus are closely al
lied and purely gastronomic as in that
Of the savages Of Mindanao, New Guinea
and the north coast OF Australia.
From its sem-rellgious or semi-superstl-
tious side cannibalism had It's inception
IN the belief that human sacrifice was the
most ehicacious manner OF appeaslng the
wrath and hunger OF the gods; and that
In the devotees themselves partaking Of
the flesh or the blood Of a fallen warrior
his virtues were transmitted to the per
son of the victor The question which
might naturally have presented itself as
TO whether the devourer did not also in
herit the vices OF the slain was apparent