Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-25
PHILIPPINE MARKETS
PRICES ARE HIGH FOR AMERICAN
PURCHASERS.
Chinaman's Queer Method Of Testing
Egg-Goods on Bamboo Tables
and Grass Mats.

From the New York Times.
In the large towns of the Philippine ISL
ands the market building Is generally of
brick covered With rough plaster. and 1t
| occupies the greater part of large square
In small towns and villages a series of bam-
boo structures in line afford the means for
merchants to show their wares.
These brick buildings are without roofs
except for a space Of about thirty feet
which runs around the entire four sides.
and is partly divided into small storage
rooms. where the natives who deal in dry
goods keep their materials for safety. The
remaining space under cover in front Of
the little shops is used for bamboo tables
or native grass mats. placed on the ground
and on which all goods are displayed for
sale.
Early in the morning. before the intense
heat of the day. the various streets leading
to the market house are alive with FilipinOS
carrying their wares. not as one is used to
seeing them in the states. in big wagons,
but on their heads in bamboo trays! Each
seller has only small stock in trade; this
he lifts from his head, places on the ground
in front of him. seats himself beside it,
ana lelSurely waits for customer
Bad Fish.
On entering the market for the first time
one is suddenly possessed with feelings of
interest and. at the same time. disgust In
| terest due to the strange. bright scenes; dis
gust on account of the odors of the highly
priced native dish. composed of a mixture
of half decomposed fish made into thin
stew. Go where one will in the building
this stew is at hand. in either large or small
clay cooking utensils. 1t is sold to eager
customers oftentimes in piece of fresh
banana leaf made box shape, the corners
fastened with slender twg.
nf rtS
not salt like SO many CubanS dearly love it
but the fresh article is scarce and dear in
many provincial towns.
Two or three great trees are generally
growing In the center of a market place.
and lucky is the man who has their CRATE
ful shade The fruit dealers. well
those who sell vegetables sit in the center
surrounded by poultry and fish traders.
Or fruits there is fair variety to choose
from IN the towns north of Mania-ba
naras small, yellow skin. and with a pc
cnllarly delicious flavor. manSOeS in season
from May to July, and a number of native
fruits unfamiliar to and disliked by most
Americans. In the way of vegetables there
Is more chOice-tOmatOes of medium size
and taste. lettuce. string bean a little like
our own. cucumbers that are large and
yellow. with a ripe old age and full of
seeds. No inducement could make the
natives bring small, green ones that were
just ripe. There is another vegetable cali
ed camote, cross. it seems. between a
Nv ~ "''N "''1tV potu'o, anu II IS a StdHu
ard commodity.
Selling Rice.
1t was quaint to see rice sold In such
small quantities-a half cocOanut shell used
for measure-to these people whose diet
is chiefly of rice
Striking in color and mode are the wo-
mems bright dresses of cotton plaid skirts
either green and yellow. blue and white
with the waist or ''camisa' of embroidered
'juisi' cloth. The materials are tempting
ly displayed all along the sides of the mar
ket, and many have been made in the cOun-
try in small nipa shacks on rough. wooden
looms. The cotton thread is bought In
great skeins from the Chinese merchants.
and dyed at home fn the color desired by
the Filipino women!
These Cinnamon import linen from China
and sell it to- the women. who embroider 1t
| with elaborate designs. and. later. it is put
on sale for waist patterns. Most of the
female part OF the market buyers laugh and
chat and take the greatest interest in an
Americans purchase, generally gathering
around SO thickly that a timid person is
woefully embarra ssed They especially
| interested in the price asked which is sew
eral times greater than that asked of a ma
tive. and in the amount finally paid. When
a dealer Is expostulated with he shrewdIy
answers:
"Americano. 'ricor" Nothing can move
him from this opinion and rarely from his
hrst price II by chance he lowers the
price. IT Is as he tells you to make a
friend. a point you have your doubts
about.
Many Cinnamon frequent the market and
are good patrons, as many have restaurants
and need large supplies. They drive as
Keen a bargain as a Filipino himself He
usually buys number of eggs and always
carries with him to market a small tin pail
full or water to test their usefulneSs, If
the egg falls to the bottom Of the pail 1t Is
good: If 1t rises to the top it Is bad and is
refused. only to be carefully wiped Off by
the vendor and put back in stock to catch a
customer without the pail.
Dried corn on the cob is sold by the dozen
ears. and to buy sufficient to feed a brood
OF chickens a week has to purchase
from several tray owners, as no one native
has enough.
All kinds of native baskets may be had
and as they generally come in nests are
easily packed for moving. Many a set finds
Its way to America. Some of them are al
most beautiful as well useful; they are
made far up in the mountains by the tribe
OF lSorrotes. who come down in the early
spring before the heavy rains with their
winters work and take back droves of poor
half starved looking dogs ION which they
feast.
BY LEGO o'clock the market Is emDty.
whether the dealers have sold out or not
and 1t remains SO until from q to s or .
O'Clock at night, when there is a smaller
number of traders who can only buy after
shutdown.