Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-04-25
ALMA, MICH. FRIDAY. APRIL %, 1902


miles
We made good friends with the sol.
diers for they gave US many many a lift.
AT this juncture we came to small hill
and nothing could persuade the barbar
ous bakers TO ascend Reed started on
foot in disgust. stayed and entreated.
l gave them grass, petted and coaxed.
The cochero took off the harness,
changed sides with the horses and
thought he had solved il. The two
soldiers had decided to come no farther
and could be seen sitting on log in the
distance awaiting developments. Then
l discovered one source OF our difficulty.
The driver was determined To have each
rein split about the same horses head
and thereby lose all guiding power or he
would have one rein attached 10 the
ontsides of the brides and the other TO
the inner sides thus turning their heads
In with one or out with the second rein.
| took matters into my own hands and
by pushing and walking we managed TO
get TO the first barrio Guinlahon, two
and one.half miles after two hou.s'
work. Here We secured saddle ponies
from the tenieDte for ourselves and one
policeman, while two unmounted police
accompanied us Sometimes the road
was submerged by brooks for several
l.. l.
feet deep at that time and several rods
wide. The water was clear and cold
from the mountains and the bed and
banks were OF stones. For long stretch
there were no houses. Then we passed
little clusters Of the bamboo structures,
and five miles from home coming TO the
western barrio Of the pueblo we got in.
formation from the teniente aud visited
two schools. We secured the names and
ages of the teachers, their enrolment
and curriculum and gave orders for
them 10 come to my school house each
Saturday for English instruction. After
a drink and lunch from cocoanut tree
we set out for home. We now found
our way easily, but we could never have
reached this barrio without guide. the
off into paths leading to the mountains
and again invisible from the washing of
river waters.
1t was nearly night when we reached
Guinlahon. As we me 10 good roads
near this place our mounted police sug
gested race with me. l accepted with
out thought and away we went. My
horse WAS the better and he could not
gain even with "a whip Down "a grade
We flew. The stones were getting large
and thick and felt justified IN calling
halt as | was length ahead Il can
drive Filipino horse TO perfection and
understand all the grunts and squeaks
beast which had no saddle girth and
which was so short that l hardly had
room for my knees to dig in. She was
too obedient. Immediately the saddle
and l vanished among the stones. l
hurriedly got up to look for my horse
She was standing over me and the grin
ming guide had alighted to see il was
hurt. sprang on again, not waiting
TO examine myself as there was quite q
large crowd looking on and we had
arrived at one Of the houses of Guinls-
hon. Reed had seen me getting up and
soon came along at q trot. looking anx-
ious. made the other fellow give in
that was first and then we turned over
our horses and asked for our caromata.
The driver soon came along and after
several balks we were on the way. 1t
was now nearly dusk. We stopped to
visit two more teachers after going
mile, and found thriving schools. The
driver had trouble ontinually and fin
ally confessed that he was new to the
business. Several times we were almost
in the ditch at the right OF the road, and
had TO feel our way in again. At last
got out TO examine the reins. He had
harnessed alone and buckled one rein to
one horse and the other split about the
other horse's head. He drove American
fashion the rest of the way and we got
home at p. m. tired and hungry after
visiting seven native schools.
(To BE- continued.)