The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-10
THE NATIVES OF BoHoL.
Their aueer and Quaint Costumes
Attractive to- Foreigners.
(From the Indianapolis News-)

From the Indianapolis News-)
The Rev. DR.. ]. H. Cissell. OF Crawfords-
vile. has received an interesting letter
from his son. First Sergt E. W. Cissell.
of Company G. Forty fourth Infantry.
Sergeant Cissell served through the Cuban
campaign. and then, enlisting with ths
Forty-fourth. went to the Philippines. He
Is now at BacIayoI, Bohol. and writes that
Bohol is radically different from the other
islands he has visited. The natives were
frightened half to death when the United
States soldiers came. as they had for ages
suffered terrible indignities from the Span
ish people. but in less than a month they
were thoroughly reassured. So intensely
do they hate the Spaniards. however that
the better educated people, who under
stand the Spanish language. refuse to
make use Of it. The population of BohoI
is devotedly Roman Catholic. but Sergeant
Cissell writes that the religion there is
much more given TO form. and is much
more exacting than in this country The
cathedral at Baclayon Is magnificent
building, with a chime of sixteen bells.
Little clothing is worn, except on Sun
day. writes Mr.. Cissell. "On that day,
however. the men wear suits of spotless
white, and the women attire themselves in
most fetching costumes. They wear a
black skirt with long trail, cream col
ored waist OF some light material. made in
evening dress fashion, and then complete
the toilette with head dress that is stun
ming. This is sort of sunbonnet, made of
very thin white material. AT the point
where it touches the head it is re-enforced
by ply. which is stiffened with starch. and
instead OF having strings and being drawn
in the back, it is allowed to flow freely over
the shoulders to below the waist. Around
the edge of the bonnst is sewed deep lace,
often of various colers, The natives wear
this garb gracefully, and are really most
attractive when so.attired. Immediately
after church comes the cock fighting. and
this consumes the balance Of the day.
Each evening the natives congregate
at place near our CAMP to sing for a
couple of hours. and this singing is of
most weird and peculiar character. 1t
reminds me of ghost-dapce tunes, or the
devil-entrance music in opera II you
can recall the music rendered in Faust
where Marguerite becomes insane, you can
get an excellent idea Of the popular music
Of BOhol. Often. iatecat night, these
strange airs come floating in from the
ocean. where the natives. are bObbing about
In their canoes. fishing. and one is forced
by some strange spell to stop and listen,
for the music. though awfully weird, has a
wonderfully soothing effect.
Here In Bohol the cocoa tree is the
staff Of life. The nut is used extensively
for food and also furnishes immense guam
titles of OIL excellent both for Illuminating
and lubricating purposes. The hull about
the nut, very thick and fbrous, is used to
make rope and fabric. What We have been
led to believe is manila hemp is nothing
more than a product from cocoanut bulls.
The fibre is pulled apart soaked in CO.
all - out In t.,
to bleach. This accomplished, it is twisted
into rope and again bleached. making the
finest manila hemp ca that ever bound
sheaves Of Indiana wheat. The leaves of
the cocoa tree are used to thatch the roofs
Of all the buildings, and they also furnish
the native with clothing and carpets.
THE leaf is taken green and stripped
into shreds. which are as fine as silk. |
These are then worked together. much as
We work carpet rags and wound into |
skeins. They then are seasoned by boiling |