The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-09-04
Letter Flou | NllIEl
N TIE PHILIPPINES.
DESCRIBES ELS sUR1oU1DINGs
IN CHIEF TOWN OF Mn
DANAO.
How the Dato Handiso Of the Horos
Attended Fourth of July Races
With His Many
Wives.

AL - q . AIA2c0s VA tAr ocscs AISiA2e
department Of The Republican recently
received very interesting letter from
Willard II. Henderson Of Company e
Thirty-frst U. S. V. infantry. now sta
toned at Zamboango. Island OF Min
dano, Philippines. Mr.. Willard was
formerly a resident OF Honolulu and
the portions Of the letter here given
viii interest good many people in
Honolulu The letter is dated July
18th. and among other things the
writer says:
None Of the cities in the Philippines
can be compared with the metropolis
of the Hawaiian Islands None are
near as beautiful and picturesque as
Honolulu. l have been in Manila, Isl
and of Luzon; Hoilo, Island Of Panay;
Jolo, Island Of Jolo (Holo); Zamoo-
anga, Cotta-Bato. Pollok and .Parang-
Parang on the Island of MindaRao. OF
course none of the cities in the Phil
ippines can be compared with Homo
lulu in population but Manila.
"Zamboanga was at one time the sec
ond largest city in the Philippines.
About four years ago the greater part
of it was destroyed by fire. 1t has
gained at least three-fourths in popu-
lation since the Thirty-first U. S. Vol.
infantry landed here OF the good ship
City OF Picking, December 10th. We
found the city in very dirty condi-
ton; no Americans in it but two CON-
panies of the Twenty third U. 8. IN
fantry, which we relieved. The sol
diers were Immediately set to work
street cleaning, etc. The Filipinos and
Moro's watched US in surprise, saying
to each other, Americas much care for
work at first We could buy from ten
to twenty bananas for cent; now we
pay l cent, Mexican, for one banana.
In the market the price to an Amer
lean is double the price to natives.
asked a Filipino who had been very
friendly to me why it was. He prompt
ly said it was because the Americans
had much more money than the ma
tivss. Eggs were formerly l cent
apiece: they now sell for cents
Chickens were 10 cents, but now they
sell for 80 cents.
The natives tap the cocoanut trees
and get drink called tuba which
they sell to the soldiers. 1t is very n
toxicating and has been the cause oi
many an American soldier getting one
month in the guard house at hard
labor and FORGETTING his months pay
A number Of the boys have served
sentences in the guard house in conse-
quence Of fighting and quarreling with
the natives. Most all of the natives
address the soldiers as John, and if a
soldier looks cross at them they say
cara calaboose, knowing all they have
to do is to complain to the officers
and the soldiers are put in the guard
house to await a trial, which in most
cases ends in the soldier getting one
month at hard labor.
The Filipino and Moro, if he has
anything at all, il courted and treated
with much more respect than an Amer
lean soldier. / have seen a Moro en-
ter the quarters of an officer, pull out
a chair and calmly seat himself, cross
his legs, then pull out his cigarettes
and light one. II an enlisted man was
to do such an act he would be very
severely reprimanded.
The chief of the Moro tribe here
is Dato Mandi. In looks he resem-
bles Spanish bull fighter. He is most
always dressed in tight-ftting suit
Of black velvet, with a skull cap Of
sano and is the leading sport Of this
place. II you visit him at his home
near here you will be entertained with
horse races, bull and cock fights. He
is also a great monte player. He has
q very fine set il domiaos. l believe
that is his fayorite game. His horse
won the officers stakes in the races
held here July 4th, which was field
day here. He has about fifty wives,
and such a show of feminine beauty
and loveliness some of the Moros told
me they never saw, but l confess l
failed to see it. They were the at
traction OF the day. They came march
Ing out to the parade ground. single
Gle, like as many geese Some wore
large pantaloons and some had about
ave yards Of calico wrapped around
them Each one carried large black
cotton parasol. and in the mouth o.
each dusky beauty was cigarette or
large chew Of beatle nut and lime Some
Of them had large holes in their ears
in which they carried cigarettes. Dato
Mandi is the heir to the sultanate of
Mindanao.
The local president Of Zamboanga
Is Filipino. one Senior Ramos He Is
} well-bred and extremely polite Fiji
pino. He is married and has q lovely
home at Santa Marie. suburb Of Fam
boanga- He is having q large house
built in town"
He OWES HIS LIFE TO THE FORE
THOUGHT OF 4 COMPANION.