The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1900-03-15
TIE PHILIPPINES.


TIE PHILIPPINES.
An Int, sstins Letter from Corp. HERON
About the Islands.
Manila, Philippine Islands, Feb. ~.
The transports Ohio and Indiana,
carrying the 4oth q. 3. Vol. Regiment,
reached Manila Bay on the afternoon
of December 26th, where we laid in
quarantine until the morning Of the
2ssh, when ne went ashore ane
marched out three miles east osrss~
city Of Manila, where the companies
were separated at distance OF one
half mile apart to dc outpost duty,
being the nearest outpost to the city.
We remained there for few days
when we relieved by the 42nd resl-
meat and marched four miles east, at
the edge of the mountains. at which
place We also did outpost duty and
sent out scouting parties up until JAN
uary 2Sth, when We were relieved oy
the 41st regiment this time, asd
marched into Manila and pitched camp
in our shelter tents on tho Luneta,
which is a very pretty place; it is the
favori,e promenade and driveway on
the water front.
Our regiment is having . very easy
time at present-no drills or guard
duty, 60 and come al we choose. We
will 20 on the transport in a few days
to be transported to the Island OF
Mindanao, at which place we are to
do garrison duty. From the looks OF
things, person would think that tho
war was about over, but one can't tell.
I don't think that We will see any
active service. The health of the
regiment at present is very good, but
al one time tbsz1wsss: =t.wo:thirds Of
them in~efs hospital with chills,and
fever, mumps and several cases Of
typhoid. We have had only two men
in the regiment to die so far, and one
of those we're from South Carolina,
and died of typhoid fever.
Now as to the physical geography Of
this country, the climate is very
healthy, there being no epidemic dis.
esses az in other countries Of the same
latitude. Dysentery, smallpox, fever
and certain contagious diseases IS
leprosy are the most common. In
places on the sea coast like Manila tho |
Thermometer seldom lises above 81
degrees Fahr. and reaches a minimum
of so degrees; the nean annual height
of the barometer reduced to the freez- !
ing point Of water is 29s7 inches, the |
maximum 3e.14 inches and the miHi. |
mum during storms 20 inches and
sometimes less.
There are three seasons. The coo ,
season commences in November with ;
the monsoon from the northeast. The
dry season sets in With March and
continues through April, May and
June, the hottest n )nths Of the year.
Ihz rainy season lasts until October.
The prevailing winds are frcm the
southwest and northeast and are called
mvnsoous. The touthWest 'nGhsoon
begins in June and erds in September
o. October. Rain is abundant in the
the interior Of The islands and OF the
west coast during the southwest mon.
soon, and on the east coast it is most
plentiful when the wind blows from
the north, that is from November to
February. Sometimes the rains are
accompanied by windstorms and last
a number of days. These are called
collss and are really distinct tornadoes.
The common name of typhoons is
baginos, which fortunately announce
themselves in a rapid tall Of the bar
ometer. Seldom year passes but in
some part Of the Archipelago serious
damage is done by these storms which
are usually accompanied by much rain
during tie storm. The winds have
velocity Of from SIS to IS miles per
hour and are followed by winds from
the south.
The inhabitants number about nine
and there are upward Of thirty
or dialects, and the prevail
ing religion is The Roman Catholic.
Besides the Malays there are many
Chiness half-Dreeds a. d a lesser NAM
Der of Spariah half-breeds. The ports
that have considerable commercial i'm
portance are Manila, Ileio and Cebu.
volcanoes, lakes, rivers
and springs are plentiful. The princi.
pal anima's are the water buffalo, used
as a draugbt animal when domesti-
Gated, and found in al the islands.
Horses are small and Wiry; cattle are
also found. Hogs are abundant and
form the principal neat diet of the
natives. There are also q few sh. .ep
and goats. There are monkeys Of
various species, wild cats and civsts.
The largest bird is the tipsol, species
of crane, five feet high Among the
insects, there are ants found every.
where in undesirable numbers, and
the locust which plays havoc With the
crops. Vegetation is extraordinarily
rich and abundant in the Philippines.
1t " uld require quite an amount Of
writing to give an adequate idea Of
plants found here. Timber for build
ing purposes is furnished By the man.
como. the molave. the ipil, the yseal,
the bauata, the gnije, and others; for
cabinet work there is the nara. white
and red, and several others. Among