The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-29

Where Disasters Have Recently Be-
fallen Our Troops

Wilson, N. c., October %.
| Editor Messenger:
AS the two recent disasters to our SOL
| diesr on the island of Samar in the
| Philippine islands are causing consid-
cradle comment just now. as well as
creating much interest 1 will give the
many readers of The Messenger some
information about this particular island
and its peculiar people. which may be
entertaining to them. OF course I
know nothing OF the island or its people
myself, by experience, except for a
sight of the land as / passed through
the strait of San Bernardino on my
trip through the island last yea while
on my around the world tour; but I
take the very brief description / give
from a small book I purchased while
in Manila, entitled "A Guide for the
American in the Philippines" written
by F. G. Verea, a native, l suppose,
translated from the Spanish by F. c..
Fisher, and published in 1899. I value
the book very highly, as it imparts in
formation about the islands and their
people, etc, which I have been able
to find nowhere else.
AS I now remember it, the coast Of
Samar presented a most beautiful ap-
learance. the hills and mountains being
CONeTeu, apparently, WIFI d rank, TlCn
tropical growth, with what little low
lands there were near the strait dorm
ed with the tall and pretty
palm which forms a most striking back
ground to the clear, blue waters Of the
strait
According to Mr.. Verea, the island OF
Samar forms part of the Visayas
group, and is situated to the south Of
Luzon, from which it is separated by
the strait of San Bernardino. To the
south of it lies the island Of Leyte, with
the Pacific ocean or the east and the
China sea on the west.
Samar is inhabited by Visayan ma
lives, sometimes called the "Pintados"
Cpainted), on account of a custom once
observed among them of painting the
body to indicate rank of nobility. They
generally adhere to their old customs,
and are reputed to be warlike and tur-
bulent.
From this valuable little volume one
learns that Samar embraces an area or
1882, $50 hectares, ap~proXimating 400
square leagues. on which is supported
a population of 232,413. The climate is
hot, but healthful, and the surface Of
the country is rough and mountainous,
pleasantly diversified by extensive n
fertile valleys. The chief mode OF
travel is by water. though roads exist
in the interior.
The wealth of soil or this lSlanQ ma
be estimated by varied and large eX-
ports of hemp, cocoanuts, wax, honey,
gums, palm-fbres and rattan, with
abundant crops of rice, sugar coffee
and cocoa, large quantities Of fruits
and vegetables, and some tobacco.
The natives are engaged mainly in till
age of the soil, hunting n fishing,
while the women weave cloth and pla1t
mats and other household articles from
the fibre of the palm
Near the towns of Calbiza and Para
nos are deposits of coal. gold in the
vicinity of the town of Pambupan, and
a marble quarry near Basey. ear the
Tfbatan river, and on the coast in the
neighborhood of Guinan are hot springs,
the waters of which are impregnated
with iron, and a 10 spring near Cal
biZa.
A very striking feature in the seem
cry of Samar is a natural bridge OF
marble, spanning the river at Basey.
That this important island, the scene
of the recent bloody conflict, has made
no small advance in Oriental civillza-
ton is indicated by the fact that 1T con-
tains no less than thirty-n1ne towns
Calbalogan being h capital.
r A. CREWS.