The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1902-06-14
In the Philippines.
A COifax Boy Sends an Account
of Strange Things In that
Strange Land.


of Strange Things In that
Strange Land.
Zamboanga, i. OF Mindanao. p. II
April Is. 1902.
Editor Colfdr Chronicle:
This city, the largest In the south
ern islands, is situated on the south
western point of the island of Minda-
mao. the second largest island of the
Philippine Archipelago. 1t is about
six hundred miles south of Manila.
and only n short distance from the
Island of Borneo. 1t is built almost
entirely on level ground, except about
a mile inland. where the land gradu-
ally rises to the foothills, and finally
to the mountains OF Southwestern
Mindanao. This town was settled
by the Spaniards in the early part of
the sixteenth century, and has at the
present date a few appearances of an
old Spanish city. Most of the houses
are OF Nip;l-B Bamboo construction. ex-
cepting a few of the principal build
ings. which are constructed of such
woods as Ebony and Mahogany.
these woods being quite common in
this country.
In the central part of this city ia
the old Spanish Cathedral. n charac-
teristic OF most of the PHILIPPINE cities
and towns. About one hundred
yards from this edifice IL the old Span
ish Quartet. which our company ia
using as barracks. In the southern
part OF the city Is Fort Pillar. which
was erected by the Spaniards in their
early settlements here. A small
stream OF fresh water flows through
the center OF the town, the water
from which Is distilled for drinking
purposes by means Of a distilling
plant lately erected by the u. S. gov
eminent. The estimated population
Ia $1,000. composed of Filipinos. Chi
nese and MorOs, with a few Spanish.
Spanish half-breeds (Mestizos) and |
Chinese half-castes. The Filipinos
are not unlike those on the other
small islands. in their habits and gem
eral appearance, although their Ian |
guage is somewhat different. The |
Chinese are practically the only busi-
ness people of these islands. In this |
city. like In most of the small towns
OF the philippines, these people own
most OF the stores and other business |
The Moro people form a distinct |
class. They belong to the Malayan
race, and bear no relation to the peo-
pie OF the Morocco country. In his
religion the Moro is a fanatic. beinpI
. true follower of Mohammed. Heis
= wiry. sinewy, athletic fellow. quite
1ifferent from the Filipino.
The climate Is very much like that
II Louisiana during the months of
July and August, although the vere-
-ation is very different. The animals
VI this island are of numerous kinds.
he principal ones being MONKEYS.
~ild eats, wild hogs, deer, carabao
md cattle. Deer and wild huys are
plentiful in the mountains, and one
an at any time take his rifle and in a
ew hours kill a deer or hog.
The CarabaO, or water buffalo. is
lsed as a beast of burden. When n
or Moro saves enough money
With which to buy a Cardiac and I,
art he Is called a wealthy man. The
!Orses (native ponies) are very un-
Ike our American horses, being very
mall in stature, although it has been
,roven that they can do more work I
han the American horse.
The principal birds are hawks, owls,
igeons. wild ducks, pheasants, and
umerous birds Of plumage. Almost
very kind Of fish is to he found in the !
lyers along the coast. and thousands
! species Of shell fish exist. Turtles {
re very numerous, and wequi.e often {
ave them for dinner, nothing being {
,nged for more than a turtle dinner.
The fertile soil produces abundant
rops of rice, sugar cane Of excellent d
uality. coffee equal to Mocha, tobac-
, and hemp, the latter being the
lief product Of the Philippines, rope
lade from this product being the ,
nest produced in the world. There
re all the kinds of fruits found in a !
'opicai cline, namely, bananas, pine :
pples, cocoa nuts, bread-fruit, and :
!angOes. There are numerous kinds :
valuable woods, the principal ones :
sing ebony and mahogany. Palms =
all varieties are web represented, :
ne most useful ones are the Cocoa