The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-08-04
Man Who Brought First News to
United States of Wonderful
People in Philippines Hopes
to Learn More of Them.
WOULD HEAD AN EXPEDITION.
Women Are Wonderfully Beauti-
ful and Men Are Strong and
Brave-Resent Intrusion, but
Are of Peaceable Habits.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
New York, Aug. al have recently re-
| turned to this country with the first reports
| of a white race found in the island of Min
| doro, and l can now give The Republic ar
| account of this recluse nation.
Hidden in the heart of Mindoro, reached
only by secret and difficult trails, guarded
by fierce men strongly armed, live race
| of people as white you and l. There
| seems only one plausible theory of the orr
gin of such race.
Centuries ago the Philippine Islands
formed continuous chain, reaching to the
mainland before volcanic disturbances
caused the connecting links in the chain to
disappear and the group to be parted from
the countries of the world. 1t may have
been that before that parting this white
people or their forefathers found their way
to the Island of Mindoro. An upheaval cut
them off, we will suppose, from the land
that they had left and there they settled,
making the best of the situation
They shut themselves in, safe from in
trusion in their mountain fastness. They
taught their children to resent intrusion
they taught their children's children 1t is
part of their creed to be sufficient to them
selves.
Intelligent, virtuous and industrious.
And yet. without communication with the
big enterprising world. they have main
tanned degree of civilization. They are in
telligent. quick to catch new ideas. peaceful
when not attacked, virtuous, Industrious and
domestic.
The knowledge OF this strange people
came TO me through q Filipino native,
whose word is good. He has seen these peo-
ple he has been one of the few TO know
them and have frequent communication
with them. What he told me was upheld
by the priest and the people of his province.
Manuel Castro's story is a wonderful one.
We ate and drank together at a reception
given by the Presidente of Taijabas Prov
ince in Mindoro
do you know" said Castro, that the
Island of Mindoro has a white race of its
own? The people are as white as you. Dress
them in your garments and they would pass
for Americans"
Have "a Perfect Guard System.
Then he told me of the strange whites,
for he goes to their outlying hamlets 20
trade with them and has done so for a
long time. He is one of the few outsiders
allowed within their guarded boundaries.
"Unless / had gone with friendly feeline
and made them know it, would never have
gotten inside, or else should never have
come away again. said Castro. 'The Span
ish have tried to reach them several times
but they have gone armed: therefore, they
have always met with disaster.
"The guard system is perfect The center
of their colony is the main town of some
thing like 10000 in population. This Is sur
rounded by circle of hamlets OF eco or 3o(
inhabitants each. They are built with only
ten or fifteen miles between each.
when alarm of an approach is received
in one of these hamlets, runners are sent
out to all the rest, making complete chain
The news Is carried fast All the circle ol
villages is up in arms. Men with strange
ancient weapons are ready.
IF the intruder tries to force an entrance
swift, well-aimed arrow greets him, 1t,
point made deadly with poison. If he should
escape this. he comes upon an array oi
spears and knives. The latter are curved
like scimitar, and are welded by these
people with deadly skill.
IF you approach with hostility, you viii
fancy them TO be the most terrible saw