Evening star., 1901-04-30
Picturesque Views Of a Populous
Philippine District.
FLOWERS FRAGRANT and BEAUTIFUL
Characteristics of the Natives and
How They Live.
V y ID I G II Y f NJ O r o S

the district OF ZambOanga. which is Situat ted
in the extreme southwestern part of Minda-
mao. on the Strait Of Basilan. This portion
Of the island forms a rugged peninsula
trending toward Borneo and is continued
III an immense submerged ridge as shown
hy the greater and lesser Sulus. Zambo-
snga the capital of Mndanao. was the
pride of the Spanish colonists and is today
the admiration Of every visitor to these
shores
The town is prettily situated on the coast
jest opposite the Island of Santa Cruz 1t
j. indeed an ideal tropical town. All OF it's
surroundings are pleasing Dwellings are
scattered over an extensive plain, which Is
covered with tall cOcOauut trees and crossed
in every direction by streams of crystal
water; houses Of wood. neatly thatched
nestle in q picturesque manner amidst ex-
HberIut foliage white walls peep forth
fYrn clusters of green leaves and bowers
If crimson blossoms. as the SplniardS We're
wont 10 say. like splendid garden i'll their
Own smiling Auda iuSa y massive stone
inrt. the interior of which was entirely de
StrOyrd by the insurgents. stands at one elld
- the town. It's moSS-coYered walls, now
more than two and a half centuries old. are
still impregnablr /" any attack save that of
heavy artillery. The fort stands out on a
point which dominates the harbor and all
IF the surrounding country. 1t forms an
imposing picture there. with its ancient !
ramp.rts rising amidst such beautiful seen
cry. AT the other end OF the town. and eN-
tending for many miles along the beach. are
cpcOanut groves and plantations of rice and
hemp. small river flows into the sea in
this quarter. and here lies the village of
Ddtto Mandi- II il curious little Moro
Tawn. hardly like real village. The houses
1r- structures cf light bamboo interiaCed
and woven st0utly together. They are so
small that II seems incredible when are
told one house shelters entire family
They are built We'll off the ground, and the
Jhatch projects over the sides to afford all
the shade possible \ canal of pure water
runs through the center of the village and
wiir-spreading trees extend their branches
uni, they meec high in The air. The stream
j. crossed az numerous intervals by rude
hridSes. and il i very pleasant to stand
here and watch yhc SJranse-loOking people
iEit <" by under this archway of living
green. In many places are seen crowds OF
natives bathing in the shade and laying
their clothes ont To dry in the patches OF
sunlight that break through.
The Spaniards built many substantial
buildings in ZambpangI. especially along
The canal thai supplies the town with drink
ing water. This stream flows down from the
mountains and passes through one of the
principal streets Tor lis whole length. Stand
ing Of ch- numerous rustic bridges
that span Ms canal: one is reminded OF
NrLicf or Holland Shaded by trees and
hortirre'I on all sides by shrubbery and flow
er-. the Stream and the street form a
charming avenue Several plazas are set
a>5,i- As parks about the town. and these
public gardens az Well kept and adorned
with hower- and tropical plants. Just in
front nj the old Spanish hospital there is
extensive parade ground ana along the in
t-C>cuing roadway is an avenue of mango
and almond trees. Breezes blow continu-
ally from tine ocean. which spreads away
ia front. and here in the shade Of the
great trees and facing the western sea
the troops are formed every evening at
sunset.
Beautiful sunset Scene.
Tt.,- Fragrance of many flowers fills the
ali. the stars and stripes float majestically
I.,..I-;,
lnas lines OF gIirtering bayonets mark the
steady ranks "f the soldiers formed along
tia. road. Suddenly the brazen throats OF
:, dozen tr1irnpets ring out the notes of
retreat. and just as the sun sinks like
great ball Of fire in the waves of the ocean
the dag is carefully lowered while the
band PLAYS the inspiring strains of the
Star Spangled Banner. and every hat Is
dorfed in salute TO the Union. As the
brilliant emblem Of liberty slowly descends.
its mighty folds kissed by the rays of the
setting sun. it spreads in the breeze and
passes like a beneUiction over the heads of
the strange peOpl. assembled there to see
what kind 0f stuff Uncle Sans soldiers are
made of.
The troops wheel away in quick time to
quarters and supper: but this sunset scene
Is too beautiful TO let such thoughts as
mess intrtde. Looking far out to sea
and beyond III. Islands of Santa Cruz are
seen several paln-cov islands, that in
the uncertain light of the evening seem to
smooth and fail Of fire as the mother of
pearl that abounds in its depths, opalescent
and shimnaerine i'll the mist. half sunshine,
half cloud. Ii is as if these far-of islands
were banks Of blIe or purple cloud drifting
bt on the breeze. Several Moro canoes arc
balancing lightly on the tide while farther
out 10 sea small boat. with an immense
Whit sail. iS skimnliug along before the
wind like great bird The sun has just
set and the scene is brilliant beyond the
power of any earthly artist to reproduce.
ilN.y
villages like Tetuan. Santa Maria San
Jose and Ayala. all admirably situated in
Ultra-tropicaI surroundings and full of in
ter-St FOR any one who enjoys ride over
Hell-kept rradwaNS. through rich planta-
ti1ns. with here and there glimpse of the
fOrrSt-Clad mountains. or. on the other
hand. sweep Of the mighty ocean. Dur
Ing the rice harvest II Is a hne sight TO see
the great telds with the whole population
of village "J't at work. dressed in every
color under The sun. with here and there a
'vniJ- tent-riy ~ awning as shade for the
babies At various points seen tall
platforms. "r ~iuEowing machines. for
tr-ading out the rice from the straw. Rid
Ing iD at sunset through these rice fields,
wish the cool sea breeze making the uncut
grain undUIate in loug waves from one end
oI d field TO the other. and the declining
sun painting the whole with its
magic rays. one might almost fancy him
self in fairy land. were ii not that We are
becoming accustomed to the prodigal man
n-r in which nature endows all things in
this new Country Of ours.
Cafixto'> Burial Place.
One of the first villages l visited after
coming TO Zamboanga was Tetuan. The
Iaaiu point II interest. after entering the
forest in which the town is located. was the
municipal building. formerly convent.
strong native guard. armed with rifles
stationed at the door. and TWO Nordenfeldt
Tapii-fire guns stood Just within the hall.
A short distance farther on was the church.
and just at the corner there mound
of earth by the roadside, which was easily
distinguished 70 be recently made grave.
Here. only few PAGES from where he fell.
Milanio CaliXto is buried. Beneath this
rough mound Of earth lies the power of
Aguinaldo n Zs.Tnhoanla. One experiences
feeling Kin "a pity in passing this way
side grave. for Caiixto. while lighting for
lost cause. was ardent follower of his
chief and 10 be shot down like a dog by
the very people he came to fight for was
indeed a sad spectacle.
Magnificent r"adways lead to neighboring
villages through plantations of hemp,
groves of CoCcarut trees and vast plains
cevereG with rice fields. In many places
tail banana trees rustic their leaves over
nd n. oil of lux Mt