The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-10-19
SOME FILIPINO CUSTOMS
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY DAILY IN
THE HOMES AFTER NIcHTFALL.

Their Manner of Eating is Not Very Pleas |
ant to witness-The Native Markets |
Are an Interesting Sight - Luxuriant
Hair of the Native Women.
The most impressive ceremony of
the Filipinos Is daily enacted at night
fall, says the Washington Star. l no.
ticed 1t first in the ancient, dirty town
Of Cavite. The bell tolls in the ancient
cathedral warning the inhabitants
that the night is on. Pedestrians gen.
orally halt, remove their hats and say
their prayers aloud. From every open
door the mumbling is heard. This is
kept up until the bell ceases.
The writer was a frequent visitor to
Filipino family of the better class in
Cavite. The family consisted of q
mother and her three daughters. l
was present on several occasions when
the above ceremony was in progress.
After the bell stops tolling they would
ali stop praying and Immediately pro-
coed to their mother, the eldest first,
and each in turn. saluting her, "Bue-
nos noche" good night, kissing her
hand, which each would carry to the
forehead. They then kissed their
mothers cheeks. then turn to their
American visitors with the salute, but
emitting the kiss. The Filipinos in
general have violent tempers.
The Filipinos, like the Chinese, are
rice eaters, and it forms the principal
| dish at all meals. They eat with their
fingers, which is not very pleasing to
forks in the house, which they pro-
duce when visitors are present. Like
the Chinese, they are also fond Of
| fatty foods. 1 have on a number of
occasions witnessed young ladies eat
| ing large pieces of fat that caused me
to have fears for my own stomach,
and 1 would be compelled to turn my
| head away.
| l am of the belief that the longer
an American studies the Filipino char
acter the more complex it becomes.
For thirteen months 1 studied them
under many, conditions, and when
| left the islands l was under the i'm
preston that knew but very little of
the Filipino and his ways when not
under observation. They do not I'M
derstand themselves and do not care
to, apparently. In the city of Manila
many native jargons are spoken, and
they cannot understand each other.
Every province has its jargon, and
were it not for their limited knowledge
of Spanish they would be unable to
carry on conversation.
They resemble very much our West
ern Indian tribes, which have their
tribal language or jargon, and were it
not for the Chinook language, origin
ated and introduced by the old Hud-
son Bay Company, our noble red men
would be at a loss for conversation
when members of different tribes
meet here in Washington.
Nine out of ten children have revolt
ing sores on their bodies, generally on
their legs, which leads one to believe
that leprosy and other blood diseases
are common among the natives. I'M
derstand the authorities have set aside
an island for lepers, similar to the one
in the Hawaiian group. The main
trouble will be in apprehending the
Ilepers, as there must be several thous-
and in the vicinity of Manila. Under
Spanish rule there was large leper
hospital in Manila, where probably a
thousand of these unfortunates were
confined. The day the Americans cap
tured the city the officials of this asy-
lum became demoralized and aban-
doned the institution. BY the time
the matter was brought to the notice
of the American authorities the place
was deserted, the lepers having scat
tered all over the city. Many of them
were found begging in the streets. A
large number of them were never cap
tured.
The most interesting sights Of Ma
Mia 1 found to he the native markets.
1 would rise about 3 in the morning,
and after a cold shower bath would
start for brisk walk through the ma
tive section Of BiIondo, which includes
the largest market in the city. Dur
ing my sojourn in the city took prob
ably hundred of these rambles alone
ard never met an American. with the
exception of a soldier, occasionally, on
guard.
This market was destroyed by the
great fires started by the insurgents
in February, 1899. Just as soon as
the heat permitted the dealers opened
up for business among the ruins, max
ing startling picture. The products
of the markets are not tempting to
Americans, who do not patronize them
Acept for fruits, eggs, chickens and
one or two vegetables common to
America. They have their fish alive
in tubs, but I would not advise any.
body to buy them, as their flesh has q
sickening taste. This Is due to the
water being always warm.
In these markets the Cinnamon con.
duct dry goods stalls. 1 wondered
why there was always a half dozen
Chinese to each Of these, and upon in
quiry they told me they were com
PEELED to band together to prevent rob-
berry by the natives.
An incident came to my notice one
morning at the market which assured
me that the Chinese precautions were
necessary. Several young toughs had
taken some mangoes out of a China
mans basket and had refused either
to ray his price or return them.
could not understand their language
but I could tell from their excited
pitch that row was imminent. The
Filipinos started to leave with theil
booty, when the Chinaman blew 9