The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-04-23
the HEART
OF iaANIL'.. Il !
MIR. c. K. schaIe- Writes OF
Philippine Journey.
Letter to Review Telling of Inland
Voyage to Our New Possess
continued from last issue.

continued from last issue.
These carramatas are curious things
10 some respects. They are simply
carts with strong wheels and stiff
springs. The shafts are usually of Dam
boo. There is no single-tree, but the
rope traces are attached on hooks at
the base of the shafts. The lines also
are frequently ofrope. when two uorses
are used. a cross sticll is fastened to
the shafts and the extra horse fastened
to this So close does he run to the
shafts that often be rubs the skin bare
In places. This extra horse has no
names, but the traces are attached di-
rectly to the collar. Brides are more
often conspicuous by their absence than
by their presence. The hubs OF the
wheels are closed, so no dirt or grease
is smeared over it.
The road on which we are travelling
is one that has been constructed and
kept in repair by the Government, SO
on the whole il is good. The country
reminded me more forcibly of our own
pralrles than any part have yet visit
ed. Tall grass and shrubs give it a
wild rugged appearance But little of
the land seems to be judiciously devo-
ted to agriculture. The people live
mostly in small settlements. Bananas
and oranges are cultivated, in fact. it
was here first saw oranges growing
on the trees or sending forth frag-
rance in blossoms. We twice crossed a
deep gorged ravine whose banks are
joined by steel bridges. The scenery
at these places is fine and puts one some
in mind of our mountain gorges in the
homeland
The afternoon is we'll spent when we
arrived in the interesting town of Tana.
uan. The place looks quite su5stan-
tial /. e. compar, d tel he villages around
toe bay here. We had hoped to meet
friend here. but found he was out OF
town. However, the Lieutenant com.
manding the Scouts who are stationed
at this place, treated us very nicely, SO
our stay over night was quite agree.
able.
Next morning we started on foot for
the barrio OF Ambalong on the shore Of
Lake Taal. we were told that the
road in some places would be yer,
rough, SO, as the distance was said tt
be only eight miles, we concluded tt
walk. The sun seemed pretty hot some
times, but we got there o. K. As {
precaution we put our firearms 81
they would be in easy reach if dem
onstration were needed. We were moi
molested. One of the first things tt
interest me was to see the natives
| working on the road" [ don't know
if they are working out poll tax or not
| but the fact remains that for the dis
lance of three or four miles, we came
across groups of solitary persons who
we're occupied in cutting, and scraping
to rid the right of way of weeds anc
brush, 1t looks quite neat when they
get through, even though their only
implements were bolos and scrapers
or rootcutting concerns similar to those
in use by R. r. section men. Some
times they would throw the rubbish
into hole or ditch, but usually it was
piled and burned. Grading q roat
seems almost unknown though we pass
ed through some cuts that are Z to l:
feet deep. The rains wash deep ruti
into the hillsides and these are seldom
leveled or filled, but left to be worn
down again by traffic.
You remember it is winter. Severa
sled loads of produce are going to mar
ket. These vehicles make no ruts
The farm houses on the way are singu
larly neat and prosperous looking
This is said to be great orange coun
try. We see number OF young orch
| ards and when we see tree near to the
road that holds aloft fruit that looks
palatable, we put aside our natura
modesty and ask at the nearest house
for permission to take and eat" The
ample Sonora does not understa nj
Spanish, but by gestures we make our
selves understood and with bamboo
pole go to strike down the fruit The,
don't come down as easily as rip'
apples but we persevere until we ge
our hands full. These particular oran
ges were large and juicy and woody
and the peel chung with eSaspeartinl
tenacity to the meat On some sor
of wart or protuberance grew which
affected the quality somewhat. WI
eat oranges when entirely green o