Arizona republican., 1900-08-11

one eIsa get q Wetting, but Wh=n made
 victims themselves their enthusiasm is dampened.
 There was a procession this morn ing from the church. A carved image of Christ was carried in great state at
 the head of the column. Some mis- chievous lads who were busily admin istering the water benediction con- ceiv5d the idea that the image that was being carried with so much reverence needed little water. An olla of water was poured on the image as well as on the bearers. The people gasped at this sacreligious act and in order to quell q disturbance the native police were called for.
 Music plays an important part in most everything. It will give d Fili- pino Dutch courage. same as whisky does 70 q white man. l waS9Onca at tracted to a house in Baliuag by the sound of music. I looked in and saw a crowd of natives sitting cross-legged on the floor surrounding a huge pile of huskad corn. Each native held be- tween his knees a board about a foot long, with strips of iron having teeth like a curry comb set about an inch apart across the board. Each man takes an ear of corn in each hand and when the music begins the ears of corn are thrust against the testh and the air is immediately filled with flying kernels of corn. They keep perfect time 10 the music. The precipitation may pour in streams, but not one will stop until the music ceases. It is a great sight. The music is an inspira- tion to the workers and they ac- complish much more under it's in fluence. Not a bad idea. is it?
 "Anoth5r curious and to me. incon- gruous custom is that of making merry at q wake. A band is always in attendance and there is a great time, perhaps all day and night. After the ceremonies attending the wake are over the corpse is carried to the cem- etery on a stretcher headed by the band, playing A Hot Time" or some other tune more or less suggestive of the future abode of the deceased.
 ''I have referred at length in the foregoing to Filipino music, I will now talk about snakes, reptiles and mosquitoes, and miscellaneous sub. jects, whatever pops into my mind. I know very little about snakes. having seen but few during my sojourn here, and I have been in swamps and numer- ous jungles. Some natives ke5p a pet house snake for the purpose of clearing the premises of mice and rats, but these snakes are harmless, though formidable in size. To one not used to them a great scare is the result A short time ago young lieutenant ar rived here who Ind not yet smelled powder or heard the merry whistle of bullets. He took up his abode in vacant shack and strengthened out his traps. He went to sleep like a good soldier, but early the next morning the whole camp was aroused by piteors yells. A general alarm was sounded and we all filed out armed to the teeth. thinking the insurgents had attacked us. Nothing Of the kind The lieutea. ant awolle suddenly in the morning and was mortified to see a huge bull snake about the length and size of a boa constrictor gliding smoothly across the floor. No wonder he yelled. He was almost frightened to death but his snakeship received the worst scare. You are apt to get a court martial if you are seen smiling any where within 200 yards of that officer It Is mystery how the snake got in hls shack, but I am inclined to the be- lief that some of the boys wanted to give the young officer a royal initiation
 ''As to mosquitoes. I can give expert testimony on those pests. The new Jersey 'skseter may be a whopper in slze. but for general cussedness must fall back and give the Filipino -Skeeter first place. Their bills are as long and sharp as a cavalry saber, and will bore through anything with as much ease as an augur bores through wood. In vain I cover up my head at night to the great danger of suffocation. l will get on the border of dreamland when sharp pain will suddenly pierce my side or the sole of a foot. I rise with a yell, thinking I am being boloed by the niggers. Nc, it is only a mos quito. Then to mock my misery tn y will swarm about my head and sing a requiem. They are awfully blood thirsty.
 ''I promised to write about the pleas ures of trip I had recently, but guess will have to postpone it until some future date, as my fingers are covered with ink, my paper is out and for the present must take a rest from w.iting"