The border vidette., 1904-01-16
FROM MANILA.
A Soldiers Description of the Philip
 pine Islands
MiDdianao. Aialabang, P.

MiDdianao, Mala bang, P. !. DR N. K NooN.
 Kind Friend. It is with pleasure I write you these few lines, after our long and tires some j ,urney of twenty three days across the F.. fife. We were all lad to get on land. We are now stationed at Malahang, which IS on the Island of Mindianao, the most soatneraly island of the Philippines. The post IS very pleasant place Well as 1 have commenced no douht you would like descrip ption of the place.
 The Philippines are bunch of trouble. gat aered together on the west ern horizon of civilization They are bounded on the north by rocks and destruction. on the east by typhoops and monsooHs, oa the south by can nibals and earthquakes, and on the west by hoodooish and smugglers. The clim ite Is a combination of cleo tical changes adapted especially to raising cain. The soil is extraordinarily fertile. producing large crops of insur- rec.isn and erickery.
 The inia bItants are very industrious. their chief occupation being trench building and the manufacturing of bolos and knives, aAd re loading Rem ington cartridges; their amusemonts are cock fighting and Monte dealing, theft and cheating The diet consists of boiled rice, stewed rice, fried rice aud rice The "Peno," narriase cer- ernony is very impressive, especially the clause wherein the wife is giveu the privilege of working as much as tx0 t,,x t,o,, I. h.xo .E burden is the Caribo On a three miles journey, only ten days rarions is req quired; for trip of one hundred miles, the driver would die of old age before reaching his destination. The rivers are serpentine in eourse, their currents running in opposition to all laws of gravitation. Manila, the cap ital and principal city, IS situated on Manila Bay, large land locked body of water, full oi dlrh, sharks and Spanish sub marine mines; Cavite. the next city of importance, ia noted for it's natural facilities for a naval station, and for it's large number of saloons and CAinamen.
 The principal exports are rice, hemp and war bulletins. The principal i'm ports are American soldiers, arms am beer and tobacco. Malaria is SO prevalent that on various occa- sions the island has been shaken by . chill. Luzon, the largest established com municasion with the numerous islands by substituting the mosquito for the carrier pigeon, the mosquito being much larger and better able to endure the fatigue of the journey.
 The native costume is flour sack tied around the waist; children twelve years of age wait until next year for their clothes. The towns a.e an az of shacks full of filth, fsas, rur dogs, cats. horses, pigs. chickens, flies. carbos, bed bugs, and the family all sleeping together on terms of equality. The native drink Is Beno, tarrantuiar juice, cactus juice, barbwire and lightning
 could still go on telling you more about this country, but have told you enough. The boys are all well and enjoying life here real nice They also send their best regards to you and all the Diamond N" boys and hope that they may some time in the future have the pleasure of meeting again. would be more than pleased to hear from you Tell the boys l send them my best wishes. Good bye.
 SERGr. HARING,
 Troo. sC" l4th Cav
 M