Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1904-09-08
THE ORIENT.
Another Interesting Letter From &.
A. Knapp About the Philippine
Islands.

LUNETA BARRACKS,

LUNETA BARRACKS,
Manila, p. l., July %, '04,
1 Mr.. EDIToR:-The Philippine Is
lands are the subject Of mnch discus
sion now all over the country. Since
Uncle Sam has seen fit to transport a
number of natives to the states and
put them on exhibition at the World g
Fair, every paper we pick up contains
an article concerning them and the
public at large are DESTROYS OF know
| ing more abont the natives OF the pos
sessions which has cost and is still cost
! ing us so much money, and they would
very likely be interested by the peru
sal OF an article dealing with facts OBJ
tanned by a person who has no axe
political or otherwise to grind and who
has seen the natives in their own ma
tives shacks and on the streets OF their
own native towns. Being in this posi-
ton myself ! shall endeavor to give to
the readers of your paper such an
article.
Let me first give you an idea of the
appearance of the country In gener al
way. The surface is very rugged but
there are some beautiful valleys and IL
the same methods Of agriculture we're
used here as in civilized countries
there could be some extensive farms,
but as we find them they are only small
patches and as rule very poorly man
aged. The low lands are used for rails
ing rice-small rice patties being found
in every valley. The mountain sides
are covered with groves OF bamboo
cocoanut palms, banana trees, banyan
trees, etc. The cities or barrios as a
rule are an aggregation OF bamboo
shacks, the chur ches being the only
substantial buildings. The largest and
populous city in the Islands is Manila
aud as all classes of the native are
represented in its population OF two
hundred thousand / will confine myself
to a description of this city.
To new conner in Manila his first
impression after drive about the city,
would be far different to that antici.
pated, for until one has become accus-
toned to ancient and medieval patterns
OF architecture and the modes OF living
of people like the inhabitants of
these Islands he would be more than
liable to think that his stay here would
be one OF dissatisfaction. One of the
first features noticeable is the narrow
streets throughout the city.
Some of the busiest streets are not
over twenty feet in width and there
are any number that are only wide
enough to allow the passage OF two
vehicles, There Is no uniformity OF
direction to the streets and unless one
Is familiar with them he had better not
stroll too far away from the central
part of the city, that is, II he has any
intentions of returning to any certain
point at any certain time. 1 have In
mind one "calle" (street), about mile
in length that is known at different
places by FIVE different names, this be-
ing due TO the cris.cross directions in
which they run. However after one
has spent few days laundering around
over the same places and getting no
where he becomes accustomed to the
winding streets and begins to find
many things OF interest. A good place
to see the natives and get an idea OF
their general characteristics Is on the
banks of the Pasig river. Here we find
an aggregation Of large roughly con-
structed boats which are used by the
natives in bringing his products to
market and many families have no 9th
place OF abode than these cascoes. ]
have stood for hours watching the ma
tives unloading from the cascoes, salt,
wood, grass, rice, hemp, fruits, veget.
ables and other materials which have
been transported from the provinces
by caribou carts to the river and
thence to Manila In cascoes. 1t Is
quite an interesting sight In itself TO
watch the native women performing
their domestic duties on board these
cascoet, their duties are very simple
and consist in preparing the meals OF
rice and fish and doing the washing for