The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-01-25
HISTORY OF PHILIPPINES.
undismayed by his forlorn condition
walked into Manila.

undismayed by his forlorn condition,
walked into Manila.
Belief IN his strange story of adven-
ture and perils could be gained only
with difficulty. Many of his tales
were very Munchausen-like and un-
corroborated credence in them was
challenged, but his tale was told in
such straightforward manner and SO
convincingly, that doubt was over
mastered and trust secured.
The authors entrance into Manila
gives him an opportunity OF descrlb-
ing the city which he does in hissim
pie way. 1t then contained 100, 900
inhabitants, only tenth of whom
were Spaniards and Creoles The
rest were made up of Tagaloes-the
name by which the aborigines were
distinguished = of half breeds and
Chinese. Manila was divided into
two sections, the military and the
mercantile. The former was sur
rounded by lofty walls; on one side
of it was the sea and on the other
was vast plain, where the military
performed their evolutions. The mer-
camille division was in the suburb.
During the day time life in the mill
tary part of the town was dull and
monotonous. The Spanish officials
dwelt there. The heat of the country
and their listless life had rendered
them effeminate, and they spent their
hours in idleness, in sleep, in visit
ing or in gambling. The streets were
straight, macadamized with broad and
stone-f tagged sidewalks. Their dwell
lings were palaces in size, never more
than one story high. built in this
manner to resist earthquake and hur-
ricane both causing frequent disas-
ters These dwellings were built
around an open square, with a wide
gallery extending inside the dwell
ling with sliding doors so arranged
that they could be opened or shut as
air was required. In these doors were
panes of very thin mother of pearl,
instead of glass. These panes admit
ted light. but excluded the glare of
the sun. In the evening the scene was
changed; then the ladies of the town
appeared in their carriages dressed
in gayest apparel, exhibiting their
charms to their attendant cavaliers,
who swarmed around them.
Binondoc, the name given to the
mercantile part of the town presented
a different aspect; it was busy, bust
ling place, cosmopolitan in the Ian
guage and characteristics of the mer-
chants, who thronged its street, clam
orous in the ireagerness for trade and
profit. Many nations were represent
ed; English, Spaniards. Indians,
Chinese and half breeds The River
Pasig. which divided this part of the
city, frora the other portion, was
covered with vessels of all descrip-
tions, loaded with cargoes of merchan-
disc and the products of the island
floating in from it's interior. Condo
las and boats filed with gaily dressed
ladies and their attendants rapidly
passed and repassed. The houses of the
rich merchants, were quilt like those 10
with the military quarters of one story
unpretending exteriors, out of most
luxurious appliances within. On the
banks of the river, connected with the
dwellings built on that stream, were
erected docks for landing places for
the pleasure boats of the owners and
little bamboo palaces" for bathing
purposes, esteemed to be so necessary
as a relief from the tropical heat.
Balls and elegant entertainments were
given by the half-breeds and wealthy
Indians, which were celebrated
throughout the Islands. The Spanish
dances of the fandago and bolero
were always danced alternating, how
ever, with the quadriIle and waltz
and native amusements of like char
acter.
Gambling was the chief vice of all
classes in the community from the
dignitaries of the church down to the
lowest day laborer. Among the veal
thy gambler large sums were won
and lost. The half breeds, Chinese
and Islanders were especially fond of
cock fighting. DR.. Gironiere relates
that he saw 10000, francs, ($8, O00)
lost on one cock fight, where a cock,
which cost $500 was killed by his an
tagonist in very few minutes.
The author after numerous adven-
lures, of danger, exploration, hunting
and fishing, married rich widow,
with some fortune and settled down to
the practice of his profession in Manila
in which he gained fame and large
pecuniary results. But this quiet life
did not suit his restless danger seek
ing spirit, so he suddenly broke up
his establishment i'll the city and with
his wife and family sought dwelling
place among the wild Indians of Hu-
zon. He relates, in his peculiarly
naive manner, an incident in this ad-
venture, which gives a true indica-
tion of the character of the man. He
had heard of noted bandit, who was