New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-09
A TRIP UP THE PASIG.
THE FTLIPINos GREAT FIsHERMEN-RE-
MINDERS OF WAR.

day loaded with men and supplies. and generally
towing some huge cascoes filled with all sorts of
commissary and quartermaster stores for the
forces stationed at the various towns the river
and the lake.
The launch starts from the landing place on the
Pasig in front OF the quartermaster's depot AS
you wait for the last OF the supplies TO be piled on
and the last Of the orders given you gain some
realization of what vast and important work ts
done by the quartermaster's department. The pres
ent phase OF the campaign Is remarkable for the
scattering Of troops over really vast amount Of
territory, and these shifting and changing every
day. There arc facilities for communication or the
shipment OF supplies except those furnished entirely
by the department, yet every company in every part
Of LUzon and of the southern islands must be
promptly and sufficiently supplied. Fresh meat
which has been brought refrigerated from Aus
tralia is shipped frequently 10 all the troops AMI
incredibly long distances. in view Of the fact
that there rcfrigerang facilities at the dis
posal OF the department which can be used over
land.
At about $50 a. m tho launch dlsentangles itself
from the surrounding craft and swings out into the
stream. A half hour more is taken up in collecting
the three cascoes. long narrow scows some sixty
feet from end to end. loaded to the top with boxes
and barrels OF food and ammunition. A sturdy
tow line is needed to connect the first with
the launch and the other two in single file behind
the first The cascoes and cargo together weigh many
tons. and TO be pulled against current run
ming the of five six miles hour.
Finally all connections made and we start out
with a shriIl foot. The river is only lined be-
low the Bridge of Spain with all sorts OF shipping.
two three deep, but the channel is alive with
tugs and launches alive bandas and cascoes being
poled towed Just below the bridge the swirl
ing river breaks in conflicting currents and eddles.
that navigation Is always difficult and, for the
lighter craft. sometimes dangerous. We pass under
the long stone bridge. which enormous
amount Of traffic passes daily. and emerge into
clearer space beyond. The next bridge is the sus
pension one, Brooklyn Bridge on a small scale.
This passed. there remains but one more. the
Puente de Ayala at end of which is the large
house once the quarters Of General Lawton.
OUTSKIRTS OF MANILA.
The Pasig winds through the most thickly settled
portion of Manila, and the stores and houses are
built down and the river bank, with no
spaces between until the outlying districts are
reached. The back door scenes are not all pretty
ones. though Of the rice houses built
with balconies overlooking the water. with
gardens which overhang the shore. and filled
with a luxuriant growth of flowers and shrubs. |
Finally pass the Of the Governors palace,
with its gardens and stables. The pretty private
launch. which is of the perquisites of this
Office, is lying, covered with canvas in a sort of
water stall with one end open and the sides Of
cement. High above, near the top OF the house |
are the arms of Spain. Soon the dwelling houses |
become fewer and further between, and we are |
putting slowly between open paddy fields and |
few neat kitchen gardens, kept, may be sure |
by the industrious Chino" Progress is so slow |
that the boat does not reach the further district
Of San Pedro Macau till 100 o'clock and this is |
only two or three miles from the heart Of Manila
In the mean time the boat has passed the new nipa |
hospital the left OF Santa Mesa. This is built |
in similar way to the nipa barracks in Manila |
a series Of long, narrow, story buildings made
entirely Of bamboo and the native thatch Being |
new and clean and in stretch of open country |
overlooking the river they said to be ideal for
the sick men, far preferable any Of the hospitals
within the city.
a river trip in the Philippines discovers more |
picturesqueness among the natives than any |
amount Of land travelling, for the coast and inland
waters form necessary part of their existence |
Not only do they delight to battle along the shore
but here they launder their clothing and-nost i'm
portant and necessary Of all, according to native
standards-tbey fish Their little huts are built |
along the shore, and steps either worn in the
earth to the water below, there are set a |
series OF unstable steps-nothing is ever very
stable in the Philippines. Where the water close
TO the bank IS too deep enter without swimming
frah platform of bamboo is built straight out
from the bank about five six feet with a
square OF bamboo at the end lust large
enough TO hold native in the favorite attitude
Of squatting. The fishermen women the bathers
and the washers of both sexes. with generally a
dash OF red among their few garments and a large
cone shaped hat big as an umbrella. are passed
at frequent intervals either shore.
Sometimes mamma, papa and several Of the chill
oren are all engaged on the family wash. Standing
up TO their waists in the stream with a pile of
garments in a large fiat wooden bowl on the bank
one OF them viii be pounding some clothes with |
wooden club, while another whrls an unfortunate
piece in the air, wrnging wet to bring II down
with all his strength a large stone the water
describing a centrifugal ring. like a halo about |
MS head Papa wears pair of trousers mamma a |
skirt and waist the little girls a small mother |
hubbard. while the little pickaninnies of boys are
considered sufficiently clad their own brown |
skins. and swim and dive like fish
RACE OF IZAAK wALTONs
There is no race Of people who have reduced fish
ing to finer art than the Filpinos. Just as the |
Two che1 articles Of diet are rice and fish, SO tho
TWO chlef industries among the natives are the rails
ing and the catching of these. They will catch fish
anywhere, even in the paddy fields during the wet /
season, and they employ hundred ingenious and
original methods Of doing so. They have lust the
requisite qualities for good anglers the world
over, patience, and a disregard of time Excen.
among the families who make business Of fIshInpg
II Is most commonly done with the rod or net and
there are all Kinds Of the latter and used In oil
sorts OF ways They will SIT for hours under tbn
eiGe sun sqIaLng under their large hats. patient
get nearer the lake. other stranger met bods are
employed. Jar shaped baskets of wicker arc piaccS
ATOMS either shore at intervals These arc used AZ
night when bright light is exposed to attract
me nsh, the wicker jar is placed in the water
opening down and in way the fish swim mo
IN erstlces at the bottom. and being once In cam
The Americans have a company or two stationed
at san Pedro Macat 1t Is a small place with sonna
old stone buildings built straight up from tho bank
Few hlpa nuts church in good repair and a
the most picturesque ruins to be found anvTbcr o ~
the vicinity Of Manila. You enter the coiIrt under
crumbng cIoisters. which shade series of cell!
nov hlied WITH debris and overgrown with weeds
arc SHRUBS. There are few perfect examines ~
slosteFs in the islands. Here and there are sug-
this architectural feature is aIyays AS
the visitors minds with the monastc life which |
abounds here this instance Of it is particHiaTi
interesting. II is the unexpected finds IN mcdieyol
ruins and buildings still extant and of ancicnt
fortifca tons built in the age of iron which make
me exploration OF each village in the Phiin- |