The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-12-15
A Letter From the Philippines.

A Letter From the Philippines.
The following private letter from las.
R. Old6eld, formerly of this city. to M.
H. Miller, is published by kindness ofMr.
Miller, as of interest to many old friends
and acquaintance as we'll as to the gen.
eral reader:
Pasy, Cavalry Barracks, P.I.
October. 18th, 1899.
We have been in the Philippines now
for two and half months and are getting
acclimated fairly we'll, although we have
all had little touch Of one illness or an
other. Our band has been pretty shy
sometimes, as many as eight or nine men
being on sick report at once. We left
San Francisco on June 18th en- route to
Honolulu, H. l., where we arrived July
9TH. The trip, comparatively speaking,
was uneventful; the usual cases of "mal
de mer," from which however James R.
was fortunately exempted. We put in a
happy time in the garden spot of the
universe (for the band was allowed full
liberty took in all the local lions, the
Punch Bowl Gan extinct volcano,) Wal
kid, the fashionable bathing resort, with
the loveliest beach imaginable, where
both men and women balhe together in
perfect freedom. The Hawaiian natives
or Kanakas as they are called are, sup
pose, about the finest swimmers in the
world. We played {. concert in the love-
ly grounds of the Hawaiian Hotel at
night. The whole grounds were hung
with Chinese lanterns. The town turned
out EN- masse and the beautiful costumes
on the beautiful forms of the Honolulu
bellies as seen under the semi-tropic sky
in the dim light of the lanterns, made a
scene not soon to be forgotten. The
applause we received was generous; we
were on our mettle, and played well, as
the Hawaians are musical critics, and
have indeed an excellent band of their
own, which is however deterioatine
somewhat, since the fall of the monarchy,
which was its chief support. After the
concert was over were taken over to the
club and entertained royalty. Pm speak.
ing literally now, for our host, OF. rather
one of them. for we had hosts of them
was Prince David, something unpro
nounceable and unspellable, one of the
last of the royal line, but a mighty fine,
handsome fellow, although he is prince.
There was no restraint or women pres.
ent. All went merry as marriage bell,
or half dozen for that matter. and
think the last is nearer the mark. Dave
helped dish out the drinks and cigars and
insisted on cake walk. We played
eat a Georgia Camp Meeting" Honey
You've Done Me Wrong" and similar
lurid tunes, and it would have knocked
your eye out to see those naval officers,
planters, princes, etc. get up and cavort.
Nothing but utter good fellowship reign
ed and we would have been kept till
morning but for our commanding officer
(the adjutant) who was present, and
counselled prudence, so we returned to
the transport and put away our too S.
Some went to bed, others, myself among
the number, went ashore again. My
comrade and self had an invitation ex-
tended to us by two Hawaiian musicians
to witness hula hula to be held that
night. We drove somewhere and after
about an hour arrived at a long, low
native house where we were received
with open arms upon our native friends
introducing us. The hula hula came of
all right. I'll tell you about it when
see you.
The next day we were called for again
by our dear Kanaka friends, who W. re
really fine fellows and both educated.
They took us this time to poi feed.
Poi is native food and staple one at
that. 1t is. made from the Taro root, but
by what process neither know nor care.
1t tastes little strange at first to us, but
we soon get to like it; it is eaten with the
fingers. Hughes (my comrade) and self
fell right into line with the natives and
owned the house. We had roast pig,
fowls of various kinds. fish ditto, sea-
weed salad delicious and many other
things, inerspersed with various bever-
ages. When you've eaten as many
etceteras as your "tummy" will hold,
you lay back and wait for kind nature to
operate little. As soon as the slightest
vacancy occurs, you install another ten.
ant, and SO on, ad libitum. We had
music right along. Nearly all the natives
play the guitar and many have exception
ally fine voices. When we left, all hands
joined in singing some Hawai- N farewell
song, led ly a magnificent baritone; t.
was unexpressibiy sweet, and we could