The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-04-24

custom of the common class, advanced and
faced each other, each with rooster in
his hand. One presented his fowl so that
it could take a good grip with its bill on
the others comb. This hold was broken
and the other then went through the same
performance Each bird having thus in
Dictated his combativcness, the two owners
squatted on the ground in the regular Fill
Pine squat and distant about six feet from
each other, holding their birds by the sides.
At the word they released them with q
little forward impulse and the fowls sprang
to mutual attack. The remainder of the
fight varied in no particular, as far as
could see, from the barnyard contests that
had amused me at home when | was boy.
In a few minutes each owner gathered in
his bird, and the contest was over. We
gave each a peseta and were given Il thou
sand gratias in return. The three CARO-
matas our guide had ordered to meet us
here now came up, and into these we
climbed, two of us in each, and Arevalo
alone in the third leading the way.
FILIPINO AND HIS PONY.
A carbonate is twO-wheeled cart with
a cover or top. The old one-hOrse shay
may have been something like it, but was
doubtless much better. 1t has one seat
in the rear and a small perch for the
driver just over the base of the shafts,
which are supported by the harness. This
gives him a chance both to lick and prod
the pony with his bamboo stick, and also,
since the beast is a diminutive animal, to
see well over his back and head in a look
out none too carefully maintained, for
ckuckholes in the road
The Filipino pony is hardy little brute,
much like the cayuse of the Northwest.
with an obstinacy that rivals that of the
army mule. He is not broken at all in
the American sense, for the Filipino is not
hOrseman, and can neither ride, drive
nor care for horse with any skill what
ever. He>is naturally cruel, and conse-
quently his horse had a hard time of it,
being half-starved, beaten and driven
about with chatting sores, to cure which no
effort is made. When the pony gets an
obstinate streak he settles back and re-
fuses to go or else deliberately turns
about and goes in the opposite direction.
| once saw an officer get out of a quilez
and lift the pony in his arms, set his
head in the right direction and give
him the toe of his boot as q reminder of
duty neglected. This was something new,
| the Filipino habit of going barefooted pre-
veting the general use of this American
| remedy for balky horses, and the pony
acted upon it promptly. The Filipino
pony has reason to bless the climate which
| makes his heartless driver go without
Shoes
This was the kind of outfit that took us,
with some little effort at speed, over the
| Canine Real in the direction of Manila.
For the most part, the road was sandy and
fairly dry, it not having rained that
| morning, but here and there were bad
mudholes, through which we were pulled
with much urging and many winnings on
the part of the drivers.
We were of the opinion that these places
could be made passable for light artillery,
carts and troops, by the use of woven BAN
boo mats instead of the corduroy that
would have been used in like places in this
country, and | so informed Gen. Ander.
son after our return.
! AN ASTOUNDING SHOW.
The driver of the leading carbonate
kept up a running fire Of shouting in the
Tagal tongue, the meaning of which was
| evident by the result, for the people came
streaming out of the houses that lined the
highway and stood by the gate gazing al
us in wonder as we passed along. 1t wa.
their first view Of the mysterious America
nos who had come over TO help them whiI
the Spaniards, and they looked at MS witt
/ as much curiosity as our country popula
ton would exhibit were the Shah of Per
STA to pass through Massachusetts perchet
upon an elephant and accompanied by hi:
suite of dancing girls.
We mentioned it TO Arevalo at the frs
stopping place, and he told us that hi
driver had been shouting 10 the people t.
come out and see the grand American off
cials he had the distinguished honor t
drive on a mission from AguinaldO til,
great liberator of the Fiipinos. OF course
such an invitation could not be resisted
Thus we passed in state through the vii
lage Of Las Pinas and finally came t.
Paranaque.
Paranaque consisted of a large stone
church of ancient build. surrounded by {
few score houses, chiefly nipa huts. il
does not consist of that now, for it has
since been the scene of much fighting hav
ing been captured from the Filipinos after
they had made ii a headquarters for sew
eral months, and the buildings having beer
in the main destroyed. The church wa.
used as post by a small squad of insur
rectos the priests having fed or been cap
tured. In it we found very good library
of Spanish text, religious, and scientific
books, including Bible over 200 years old