The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-08-08
PANITAN, Capiz. r. L.,
June 8, 1902.

PANITAN, Capiz. r. l.,
June 8, 1902.
Dear Mr.. Campbell:
You may be interested TO know how
pleasantly vacation may be spent In
the interior OF this country.
When orders were received prohibit
ing employees Of the educational depart
ment from visiting Manila during the
cholera epidemic, vacation plans had TO
be rearranged. Some decided 70 stop
In IIoilo. where they would be sure Of
some little excitement, and NJ the same
time could take advantage Of chance
trips on interisland boats TO ports Of the
southern archipelago Others retreated
70 certain shady spots along the beach.
where they could be refreshed by the
cool and health-giving breath Of the
salt sea- Our party decided to spend a
few weeks In the interior Of the island.
The town OF Dumaros, picturesquely
situated among the palms and mangoes
at the base of Panay's highest noun
tain, was selected for our headquarters.
Dumaros is about 30 miles from Cspiz,
and we had intended TO make the trip
on horseback, but owing to q scarcity
by the natives ''surri," which has
taken of about 95 per cent, we we're
compelled to look for other means Of
For commercial rea-
sons nearly every inland town Of the
Philippines is built ON the banks Of the
river, and the idea OF ride up the
river in ''baroto" Il long, rowboai)
seemed to impress all favorably. This
was given mp. however, upon learning
that It would take about three days to
reach our destination. The drowsy
caraboo, the general utility animal OF
the Filipino, was considered beneath
American dignity, and so the only two
means left of getting to DumAros were
to walk or secure talabons. We Sc
cured talabons. A talabon is ham
mock swung between two poles with q
native at each end of each pole. A
covering is arranged over the top for
protection against the sun, and II two
reliefs OF natives are employed, SO that
they can jog along at reasonable pace,
IL is most comfortable way Of getting
over the country.
At Dumaros we had purposed TO read
French for intellectual recreation. to
give . 'sbaile" to establish ourselves
socially, and to swim, hunt play ball.
and bike for our physical welfare. So
the third day, when the justice Of the
peace came over and invited us TO walk
with him to Astorga, 9 town 1g miles
over the mountains, TO see his gold
mine, we gladly accepted the invita-
tion. For . trip OF this kind we should
start early in the morning, but we did
not get started until about 8 o'clock,
the hottest part Of the day. The first
obstacle in our way was river without
= bridge, but our Filipino friend did
not allow this to worry us long. He d.
rected his "muchacho" (servant) TO
carry US across on his back There are
many OF these rivers through the coun-
try. When they cross the main road
they 30 metimes have = bamboo bridge
o few wooden bridges have been put In
by the militaryl; sometimes, . raft;
sometimes, baroto, ahd sometimes,
only q log or some bamboo stringers
Through the mountains the streams
are generally shallow during the dry
season, being from two TO four feet deep
at the place Of crossing, and bridges
are considered unnecessary. ~
Our friend, who Is large man, some
what past middle age, started out
slowly, and we were anticipating a de.
lightful walk, but when he reached the
hills, like the old priest in Kiplinf q
"Kim," he seemed 70 assume renev I'd
vigor, and soon we were winding about
on the narrow trail At . dizzy pace.
The ups and downs seemed TO become
more and more steep and rocky, but he
seemed 70 60 only faster. To one inex-
perienced in mountain climbing an
almost discouraging feature is, that
after exerting nearly all his energy in
struggling up over the rocks TO what
appears TO be the highest peak, he
finds that he must At once, by q pre-
cipitous descent, 60 down, down, down,
until he reaches point to which ever
the tropical sun cannot penetrate, and
which reminds him Of the beginning OF
tVirgil's description OF the entrance OF
Eneas to the reign Of spirits. He be-
gins another ascent. and soon becomes
aware that he has gone down so low
only for an opportunity TO struggle up
another steep and narrow path to a
peak just little higher than the pre-
ceding one. Finally we came In sight
of few shacks made OF bamboo and
grass, which we hoped we might call
Astorgo, but we were disappointed, for
Astorgo was still four miles in front OF
us. 1t was nearly noon, however, and
we decided TO stop At this place for
dinner. The dinner, which was eaten
W tn great relish, consisted OF four
plates of rice and Filipino chicken soup,
while young cocoanuts furnished Us
water. Everything was placed on the
floor, like the'dinner at a home picnic,
and we ate with our fingers.
A In the afternoon we finished our trip
arriving at Astorgo at 3 o'clock. We
stopped at building which served as 9
tribunal and church. The princips
men OF the town came over TO see Us
q