The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-18
IN BEAUTIFUL MINDANAo.


Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
HAGERSTOWN, Ind, June Thames
Hanley, of Company B, Fortieth United
States Volunteers, writing from Surigao
Island of Mindanao, p l., gives
some unique descriptions of the
country and inhabitants. He says:
This is one of the wealthiest is
lands of the Philippine group. There is
much gold and the natives have plenty
of it, The people are divided into several
tribes and five different languages are
spoken on this island alone.
This is a fine country and seems to be
wealthy. The people are very sociable
on this condition lasting We send out
scouting parties once in awhile to see what
is going on around in the country. We
have established police force of natives.
1t is an excellent plan and the police are a
great help to the soldiers. This is beau
tiful town of 1.50O inhabitants most of
whom are Chinese. They are the business
people of the town and some of them are
very wealthy, and have fine stocks of
goods. There is lots of gold here. j have
seen natives with sacks of nuggets ranging
in size from a pea to a walnut. There are
several white miners in the mountains
erous rushing streams. expect to engage
in mining when my contract with Uncle
Sam Is over.
This would be cheap country to live
they wear only long shirt and never any
shoes, but woman in her ordinary garb
Is an oddity, and when clothed in holiday
dress becomes an absolute curiosity Her
garments consist of tight-fitting waist
and a couple of skirts wrapped closely
about her hips and reaching but little be-
low her knee. From the waist to the elbow
her bare, brown arms are covered with
half a hundred brass rings or bracelets.
and similar ornaments cover her lower
limbs from ankle to knee. About her neck
hangs a bead necklace, and brass girdle
of from six to eight inches in width en-
circles her waist. Large holes in the lobes
of her ears are filled with wooden buttons
and from one of these TO the other under
her chin, runs a string of beads from which
bangles ornaments made of mother of
pearl. In addition to the chin strap of this
ornament. long strings of brilliantly col
ored beads fall TO her shoulder When she
up constant jingling and she makes music
wherever she goes. The anklets are large
enough TO be removed at will, but the
bracelets are forged on her arms TO show
the curve of her wrist The women do not
wear shoes on any occasion.
1.-The port Is open here now and we ex-
pect boats any time. For poor tobacco
soldiers have TO pay IS plug and bread is
clear out of the question. Postage stamps
cannot be procured and all outgoing mail
must be sent without stamps
This island produces abundant crops I
have seen good corn, also pumpkins and no
end of cocoanuts. Three large nuts can be
procured for one cent. All the trees have
steps cut in them and the nuts can be had
by climbing after them. Lemons and
oranges grow here. and tobacco, cabbage
sweet potatoes, sugar cane and even water
melons Rice is not grown extensively on
this island. Hemp is the main crop. Sew
eral million dollars worth is stored on the
island in warehouses owned by dealers
ha haan Shinppd Tor su-o
and crops have been accommodating Mexi-
can silver coin is current here. Occa sional-
ly Chinese or japanese copper piece is
seen, but not often"