Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1902-03-11

increasing, however, ana from tuo
number being sent home for discharge
the regimental enrolment will be con-
siderably smaller at the end OF two
years of service. Among the natives
the death rate is showing a marked in
crease, and the sound of the band
which invariably plays at Filipino
funerals fills the greater part of the
day.
So far as the water supply OF the
companies in the interior towns Ia
concerned, we shall be fortunate in
deed, II we escape an epidemic before
the rainy season. The sole dependence
and source of drinking water in those
places is the rivers running near the
towns. In the rainy season these are
raging torrents. Now they are haraiy
more than brooklets- knee deep
and almost lost in immense river bot
toms of the western type.
had to cross one OF these few
days ago, and as far as the eye could
reach the stream was thronged with
various forms of life. Within a dis
tance of two miles were, at the very
least, 500 of the great unwieldy car
boo or water buffalo, wallowing in
the bed of the stream. 1t is essential
to their preservation that they shall
spend a part of each day in the water,
but glance at the normal condition
Of their hides is enough to show the
pollution they must engender. Right
in among them and at various points
along the bank were hundreds of pa-
tives, old and young, men, women and
children, all having their daily bath.
This completed, they begin woi6 on
the spot with the daily family laundry
and such pounding and wringing oc-
tesions all sorts of visions of dirt
galore. And this is not misconcep-
tion, from a health point of view, eth
er. | approached one man who SEEM
ed to have an especially large display
OF garments, and asked him some
questions about the Filipino laundry
customs.
| found that he had six children at
home, all down with smallpox, and he
had come down to wash their clothes.
This river was the sole source from
which the drinking water OF $50 men
had to be obtained. Is it a wonder
that the company officers are constant
ly haunted by the spectre Of various
native diseases? Every effort is made
to prevent it surely, for the water is
boiled and filtered, and then stored in
carefully cleansed jars. II the men
could be made to drink this only. all
might be well-but In every command
there are always men who cannot be
taught anything, and who at every op-
pcrtunity would rather drink the FL
thy water directly from the river. II
is from this class that the larger part
OF the men are now dying and being
invalided home is drank A great
burden Of every company officer when
the rainy season enables fresh rain
water to be substituted for the pres
ent supply.
Another source OF much trouble Is
a native intoxicating drink called
tuba" This, unfortunately. is OBJ
tained in great abundance from the
new shoots at the top of every cocoa
nut tree, and can be had at any time
for the asking. Two glasses are suf
hcient to make an ordinary American
crazy and utterly unable to control
himself On the November expedition
member of the Nineteenth infantry,
while under its influence shot and
killed his chum at Leon. and is now
serving a long sentence in conse-
quence. In the Twenty-sixth many
desertions and crimes can also be laid
to It's door, and it can truly be said
that If 1t were not for its presence here
the summary court record would be
reduced by more than one-half.
Among the natives it is universally
used, and no Filipino soldier or guide
will go into the presence of danger
without fortifying his courage with a
liberal allowance of the stuff. The
soldiers are under orders not to drink
it, and natives found selling it to them
are severely dealt with at the posts.